January 2015 the valleyonline by The Valley Newspaper

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The Valley, January 2015

GAPS

Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Merry Matukonis “ All Diseases Begin in the Gut” ~Hippocrates, 460-37-BC GAPS - what is it? Learn about the condition which is behind many mental and physical problems, which our children and adults suffer from, such as autism, hyperactivity and attention deficit, dyslexia, dyspraxia, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders and more. Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAP Syndrome or GAPS) is a condition that establishes a connection between the functions of the digestive system and the brain. This term was created by Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD, MMedSci (neurology), MMedSci (human nutrition) in 2004 after working with hundreds of children and adults with neurological and psychiatric conditions, such as autistic spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD/ADD), schizophrenia, dyslexia, dyspraxia, depression, obsessive–compulsive disorder, bi-polar disorder and other neuropsychological and psychiatric problems. Gut flora is something we do not think much about. And yet, the number of functions the gut flora fulfils is so vital for us that if some day our digestive tract got sterilized, we probably would not survive. The first and very

important function is appropriate digestion and absorption of food. If a child does not acquire normal balanced gut flora, then the child will not digest and absorb foods properly, and develop multiple nutritional deficiencies. And that is what we commonly see in children and adults with learning disabilities, psychiatric problems and allergies. Many of these patients are malnourished. Even in the case where the child may grow well, testing reveals some typical nutritional deficiencies in many important minerals, vitamins, essential fats, many aminoacids and other nutrients. Apart from taking a direct part in nourishing the body, benefi-

cial bacteria in the gut act as the housekeepers for the digestive tract. They coat the entire surface of the gut protecting it from

invaders and toxins by providing a natural barrier and producing a lot of anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal substances. At the same time, they provide the gut lining with nourishment. It is estimated that 60 – 70% of energy the gut lining derives is from the activity of bacteria, which live on it. So, it is no surprise that when the gut flora is abnormal, the digestive tract itself cannot be healthy. Indeed, most children and adults with learning disabilities, psychiatric disorders and allergies have digestive problems. Did your child have normal development in the first year of life, and then in

Lighting Brush Fires in People’s Minds

the second year became autistic, hyperactive, defiant, oppositional, aggressive, obsessive, compulsive or develop other abnormal behaviors? Did your baby suffer from colic, loose stools, constipation, eczema, asthma, ear infections or chest infections treated with antibiotics? Did you or your child have digestive problems and allergies, was a fussy eater, then in late teens become anorexic or bulimic? Did you or your child suffer from tummy aches, dyslexia, dyspraxia, was anemic or vegetarian, and then developed psychotic episodes and was diagnosed with schizophrenia? Did you or your child have urinary infections or acne, treated with numerous courses of antibiotics, and then developed bloating, abdominal pain and was diagnosed with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)? There are many more conditions listed on www.gaps.me if you want to learn more. I am a Certified Gaps Practitioner and will begin group GAPS meetings in my office in Centre Hall beginning in January. Call for details. (814) 933-9149 If any of these situations apply to you or your family then you have come to the right place! You need to learn about GUT AND PSYCHOLOGY SYNDROME. a

The Valley, January 2015

Editor’s Corner Wayne Stottlar I had always wanted a Weimaraner. I think my love for the breed was born when I was in about 5th grade, a neighbor friend had a Weimaraner, and it at the time, was the first one I had ever seen and I was floored by the regal conformation, intelligence, sleekness, and the fact that whenever I was with this friend, the dog was always with him. Aside from them being prohibitively expensive for me to buy one, life situations also precluded any real thought that I might own one—correct that, “Be Owned By One.” Not too long after Lynn and I found each other, the subject of pets came up, and although both of us had had dogs in our younger years, neither of us had ever had anything as big as a Weim. We started looking online for

rescue sites after checking with area breeders and finding out that about $1,000 was a starting point as far as buying a puppy. That wasn’t going to work, and I probably thought at that time that we were just going through the motions and not really serious about getting one. Lynn in her usual “research a topic to death” mode, started telling me that everything she was reading was making it look like a Weimaraner was not the ideal dog for us. At the time we were in an apartment. She was reading all the warnings concerning the breeds high energy levels, that they needed lots of exercise, could be destructive, have separation anxiety, be stubborn, strongwilled, highly intelligent, very protective, and did I mention that they needed LOTS of exercise?

Well over the course of six months we continued checking the online sites to no avail. Then one Saturday morning while having our coffee, and cruising the net, Lynn found one that was at a shelter and up for adoption! She immediately called the shelter which was close by in Harrisburg, (was this really going to happen?) and after a few minutes and a couple people, we found out that the Weim we wanted was at that moment in the process of being adopted, we were too late. I was disappointed, but once again thought that this was something that would always be just a dream. I believe it was three days later Lynn found another Weimaraner up for adoption, a young year and a half old male. The only problem was, the shelter was in Chicago! Surely someone would adopt him before we could get there. It was Tuesday and we both worked outside of the house at that time. After a phone call to the shelter, they told us about Murphy and we decided to take some vacation time and drive out and adopt him. We left after work the next day in a bad thunderstorm and we stopped sometime that night, somewhere in Ohio

Murphy, my buddy and best friend, thank you for the companionship and happiness, I will miss you for the rest of my days.

for some rest and continued on the next day to meet our appointment time. After some paperwork, one of the staff brought Murphy to the waiting room. He was all over the place! Running from person to person in the room, he looked frightened and excited all at the same time. I remember Lynn’s shocked look, and her question— “Is that him?” She also looked somewhat terrified. After a few minutes, we were headed home with our new best friend. We weren’t even out of the city limits and Murphy had his head on my shoulder, (he easily reached over the seat back of Lynn’s PT Cruiser). I think he was

already set in that he was part of our family now, but Lynn and I had much to learn about Weimaraners and he taught us everything, sometimes several times. He did turn out to be very stubborn, highly intelligent, very active and since he had been given up by his first family, he had separation anxiety when we had to go to work. We found ways to deal with that, but it wasn’t easy. All in all, I was very happy to have Murphy as a pet in spite of all the learning and care he required. Still though, he was a pet, and I kept that perspective. I had had several pets over my life, a couple dogs

Continued on page 11

Contact Info Editor/Publisher Wayne Stottlar Graphic Artist/ Co-Publisher Lynn Persing Associate Editor Colleen Swetland The Valley PO Box 41 Yeagertown, PA 17099 (717) 363-1550

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“Fair & Balanced” means Spin gets Equal Time

Traditional Values Rooted in Faith

The Valley, January 2015

ADVANCING THE COUNTER-REFORMATION by Rev. William M. Weary The front page article in the December 2014 edition of The Valley entitled “Advancing the Reformation” raised the very interesting subject of Church authority vs. Scriptural (Bible) authority in ways critical of the Catholic Church. I believe that I understand many of the concerns raised and I welcome the opportunity to be part of this conversation, since I find that church people don’t talk enough about their beliefs and the rationale beneath them. And so I respond, as pastor of the two Juniata Valley Catholic churches, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Lewistown and Saint Jude Thaddeus, Mifflintown. The author of the article in question is Daniel Botkin, who is a Messianic Christian, as he makes clear. A big point he makes is that Saturday, not Sunday, should be the Christian’s main worship day. He states, trueenough, that the switch was made early on by the Catholic Church (just about the only show in town for Christianity’s first 1,000 years). He says that this was against the Bible, which never authorized the change from the Jewish Sabbath. However, Acts 20:7 says “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered to break bread…” The first day of the week is Sunday and the breaking of bread refers to the Eucharist or Lord’s Supper. Then 1 Cor. 16:2 says “On the first day of the week each of you should set aside and save whatever one can afford, so that collections will not be going when I come.” This shows that Christians were gathering for worship and collections on Sunday. This is appropriate since Sunday commemorated the Lord’s Resurrection, Christianity’s central event, which occurred on a Sunday. Since most Christians were Jews during the first few decades of Church history, those Jewish Christians would worship at Temple or synagogue on Saturday (the Jewish day of worship), and then privately, quietly gather for their own celebrations on Sunday. With the 70 A.D. Roman destruction of the temple, rabbi excommunications of Jewish Christians around 90 A.D., the resulting decrease of Jewish converts and the increase of Gentile converts,

Sabbath worship was understandably dropped and Sunday worship maintained. This switch should pose no problem, considering that the Church dropped other Jewish traditions such as circumcision and dietary restrictions, changes acceptable to all Christians today. While it is true that those drops are clearly mandated in Scripture, the beginnings of Sunday worship are indicated in Scripture as I just pointed out. Early Christians had no problem with this as shown by St. Justin’s 155 A.D. letter to the Roman emperor, which states “on the day we call the day of the sun, all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place.” He then goes on to describe an early Eucharist or Mass. Also accepted by the early Christians was the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, i.e., the truth that the bread and wine become the true flesh and blood of Christ Himself after the words of consecration are spoken, a truth dismissed as “bizarre” by Mr. Botkin. Yet the consecrated bread and wine are not merely symbolic or poetic but, by the Holy Spirit’s power, truly Christ Himself in a mysterious, invisible, mystical, but very real way that we cannot completely understand, any more than we can understand the Blessed Trinity, the Creation of the Universe out of nothing, or God coming into the womb of a teenage girl. At the Last Supper, Christ said “This is My Body, This is My Blood.” True, Christ also said, “I am the vine” and “I am the sheep gate” but He didn’t pass a vine around or a sheep gate around to those present and say “take…” He didn’t institute a perpetual ritual with a vine or sheep gate. He did at the Last Supper and so we are in different category here than mere analogy or figure of speech. Christ repeats this truth in The Bread of Life Discourse, John 6: 22-71, especially v. 53, when He says “Amen, Amen I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His Blood, you do not have life in you.” People in the crowd walked away when confronted with this “bizarre” teaching but He did not correct Himself or retool it symbolically to win them back. (Jn. 6:66-71).

Early Christian written testimony attests to this belief, as with St. Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, who criticizes those who “do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ…” Again, our friend St. Justin, writing about 151 A.D., says “For not as common bread nor common drink do we receive these…we have been taught , the food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer set down by Him…is both the flesh and blood of that incarnated Jesus.” While not Scripture, these testimonies are early evidence for how the first Christians interpreted Scripture. Catholic Church theologians called this change from the appearances of bread and wine to Christ’s flesh and blood, “Transubstantiation,” a crossing-over (trans) from the substance of the elements to the substance of Jesus Christ Himself, while retaining the outward appearances of the original elements. Martin Luther, even after breaking from the Catholic Church, retained a similar belief and called it “Consubstantiation.” Mr. Botkin raises the issue of Church authority vs. Bible authority. He asks, which one is more important? Answer: The Bible is superior to the Church and the Church cannot teach anything contrary to the Bible. For instance, the Church cannot add another book to the Bible or teach that there is a fourth person in the Blessed Trinity or that adultery is ok or that Christ only had a divine nature, not a human nature as well. While the Church is in service to the Bible, the Church, at the same time, has the authority, under the direction and protection of the Holy Spirit, to officially and finally interpret the Bible in cases of major disputes. This would come in large part from Matthew 16: 18-20 where Christ says “upon this rock I will build my Church and …I will give to you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” It makes sense. You have the ball game, you have the rule book, but you need someone to interpret the rule book in dis-

The Truth Has No Agenda

putes. Those are called umpires or referees. After all, the rule book does not interpret itself and neither does the Bible, as St. Peter makes clear when speaking of his fellow apostle St. Paul’s letters, saying “there are some things in them hard to understand that the ignorant and unstable distort to their own destruction, just as they do other scriptures.” (2 Pet. 3:16) In such confusion and disputes, who is the final interpreter or arbiter? Why, that which is the “pillar and foundation of the truth.” Is that the Bible? No. The Bible itself says that it is “The Church.” Check out 1 Tim. 3:15. The Bible itself never teaches sola Scriptura (by Scripture or the Bible alone). To support that false human tradition, many cite 1 Tim 3:16, which says that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching…,” but that doesn’t say only Scripture is useful for those things. The Bible never lists its own table of contents. You would think it would, if we go by Scripture alone. No, that was left to the Church. Councils of bishops of the Catholic Church decided the contents of the Bible, based on – brace yourself – Tradition. Tradition is Major Truth handed down to us orally from the apostles, through the centuries, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit; Truth not made explicit in Scripture, which, after all, is written Tradition; Truth like the contents of the Bible itself. While Christ rightly condemns false human traditions, the Bible elsewhere upholds tradition, as in 2 Thess. 2:15, where Paul exhorts his readers to “stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by oral statement or by a letter of ours.” Right there you have oral Tradition (by oral statement) and Sacred Scripture (by letter). Mr. Botkin cites several examples of Catholic traditions or teachings, allegedly contradicting Scripture. One is mandatory celibacy for clergy. Paul does condemn certain groups of his day that “forbid marriage,” (1 Tim. 4:3) but these were groups that forbade marriage completely, as evil, for all their members, for all time. The Catholic Church regards marriage as a holy sacrament and the Bible never forbids a disciplinary rule like celibacy for a certain segment of the Church’s population. In 1 Cor. 7:32-35 St. Paul extols the goodness of celibacy and encourages it. Plus, the Church grants certain exceptions to this rule (which is discipline not a Major Truth) and allows

married priests in some cases. Talk about the bizarre, Mr. Botkin cites an example of the Vatican allowing certain Latin Americans to eat capybara, a kind of water rat, without violating the no-meat rule for Fridays of Lent. I had never heard of this before. First of all, yes, there is a general rule that Catholics are to abstain from eating meat on the Fridays of Lent in honor of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Under the Matt. 16: 18-20 rule of binding and loosing, the Church has the authority to issue such disciplines (which, again, are not unchangeable Major Truths like the Trinity or the Moral Law but are changeable small traditions of an administrative, disciplinary nature like every organization has). I did some research on this, and I am satisfied that the Church simply granted what is called a dispensation from the rule for certain people, probably in deference to the poor, allowing them to eat a certain common animal on the Lenten days so as not to overburden them. I am sure that the Vatican never officially declared the capybara to be a fish, as Mr. Botkin claims. If so, show me, not some magazine article, but the official Vatican decree, or at least a citation. I couldn’t find one. I am aware of the apparently lavish claims of salvation connected with wearing the Scapular (a small cloth necklace, dedicated to Jesus and Mary). That apparently absolute promise of salvation for those who die wearing it, is not an official teaching of the Catholic Church, but neither has the Catholic Church forbade its promulgation, that I’m aware of. Of course, the promise is not all that far removed from some Protestant claims of Eternal Security (once saved, always saved), after doing the sinner’s prayer. And I say that because wearing the Scapular is a wordless, physical gesture of faith (how many hardened atheists would wear one?) that says, “I believe in You, God, please protect me and help me.” I think the promise presupposes that faith. Can God refuse such a disposition? I think not. I may not have covered every point of Mr. Botkin’s letter but I hope that this clears up some misunderstandings. May God bless you all. a Rev. William M. Weary Pastor Sacred Heart Church, Lewistown, Pa. and St. Jude Thaddeus Church, Mifflintown, Pa.

The Valley, January 2015

The Urge To Save Humanity Is Almost Always A False Front For The Urge To Rule H. L. Mencken

“Fair & Balanced” means Spin gets Equal Time

The Valley, January 2015

January – It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year ! Yes my friends, it is indeed that time of year for which we all wait with bated breath. The time when all of our attention focuses on those jewel-toned images of joy to come. That season when hopes and ambitions seem limitless; when nothing seems impossible, when the future stretches out in the golden glow of infinite possibility!

It’s Seed Catalog Time

Oh, come on! Admit it! The minute those glossy pages hit your grubby paws you’re drooling and you know it! Keep your super model and your beefcake calendars! Give us twining vines laden with pods bursting with plump peas; buttery ears of corn beckoning from the dense thicket of verdant stalks. Show us the promise

of succulent tomatoes with the perfect skin of a new born babe; lettuce with the frilled beauty of a newly opened flower glistening with diamond drops of dew. Let the winds blow, the temperature plummet and the icy snow pile up. Hold out to us the images of the Garden of Eden that we all KNOW that our garden can be and we will be content. Two words. SELF CONTROL.. Oh, I’ve been there. You draw up plans, make lists, cross reference between catalogs and then make new lists. You spend sleepless nights visualizing how to organize the garden layout to squeeze in the maximum number of plots to plant the maximum number of varieties and then you make more lists. You haunt the mailbox for more catalogs. You float in a serene bubble of fantasy

-hued hope. And then someone walks past the table, looks at the piles of lists you’ve made, covered with columns of the seeds you plan to order and pops the bubble with one pointed question. “We gonna mortgage the house to pay for all that or did someone die and leave you a million dollars?” POPPPPPP!!!!!! Reality bites. Still, even after we’ve paired down to a manageable number of packets, the feeling of hidden treasures discovered remains. And that’s the lure of gardening for those of us who are addicted: no matter the disappointments of this year, there’s always next year. See? It says so right here beside the movie- star pictures of cabbages looking sexy. How do they do that, by the way? Marketing people for the seed companies have it down to a science. They know exactly when to start throwing out the bait – late November. They build up the pressure through December and really dump the bucket come January. Then they just sit back and start reeling us in. But you know what? Some may call it an addiction, but for us and those we share the bounty with, this is one addiction made in Heaven. The temporary insanity of seed catalogs followed by the subsequent months of healthy exercise, culinary artistry and richly laden Harvest Home helps to give us a perspective not always granted to less sweaty, less mucky

folk. Let people say that we must be driven by forces beyond our control to do what we do, year in – year out. That’s probably an understatement, to tell the truth. We say that we are blessed and grateful for the blessing of being so driven. And to tell the truth, that would be an understatement as well. So, as we shiver through our January chores, anxious to get into the warm house and the seed catalogs, we ARE content - with three

thoughts. One: Spring is not far off. Really! Two: Until Spring comes we can look at the pictures in the seed catalogs and dream our dreams. Okay, we won’t mortgage the house! Three:

It’s Almost Time To Plant The Celery!! Lucky, lucky us. AGAIN!!!!!!!

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The Truth Has No Agenda

The Valley, January 2015

Encouragement from the Book of Revelation by Pastor J. C. Reese As the new year begins, there’s a sense in which there’s a freshness with the past behind us and great opportunities in front of us. We may at times struggle with the past, but as Paul wrote, we must instead “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” that we as believers have. Old sins once confessed rightly to God must be let go by us so that God can use us well. In Rev. 16, God commences a final purge upon this old world and its sinfulness and it will usher in a new and better universe. Let’s take a quick look at what God will do and be encouraged in how God will begin to make all things new and vibrant! The chapter begins with the Lord commanding the angels to “Go your ways and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.” Initially, this may seem not very encouraging, but this heaven-sent order will end up being so. We don’t always look at our trials as good in the beginning, but God has a great plan for your betterment through every one of them! Vials one through three are poured out in verses 2-4 with #1 being a plague of boils on those who’d taken the mark of the beast, #2 coagulates the sea (imagine the ramifications of this!), and #3 the fresh water supply is actually turned to blood! A bit of irony here as those who’d sought the blood of God’s people are now forced to drink blood for the scarcity of water in this time. These judgments show us that man then will come to such a place of hardness that God must deal so with them in rectifying a broken world. Don’t allow yourself to be hardened to what God has to say in His Word, believe it, be tender to what it says and follow it for it is truth and it is powerful enough to make you a new creation even despite past sins! Last, lets look at vials four

and five. The fourth is poured out on the sun and the result is these wicked men are scorched with intense heat. Yet, the Bible says this of them, that they “blasphemed the name of God. . . and repented not to give Him the glory.” How hard hearted these people will be. How hard hearted many are today. When things go not to many folks’ liking, what do they do? They take God’s name in vain because their plans are not fulfilled, things go awry, etc. They curse Him too. Instead, shouldn’t we come to terms with the fact that God’s agenda is perfect and ours is not? Could it be that He knows something is best to be withheld from us in how we think things should run? When the hand of cards we’re dealt doesn’t turn up like we want, we should play it out as best we can with His help believing He knows best and all things truly will work together for good to those who love Him! (Rom. 8:28). The fifth vial hits the AntiChrist where he will live! The pain inflicted on this evil man and his minions at his palace will have them “gnaw” their tongues. The word gnaw has the idea of an ongoing torment as opposed to one that’s short-lived. And it’s not that God is getting His jollies messing with these folks, but rather the language here suggests He is attempting one last ditch effort to effect a change of heart (… and repented not of their deeds,” vs. 11). How longsuffering God is even in His judgment at times! And yet, how defiant men can be! So the great lesson here for us this year is to be humble and do what God says in His Word—it’ll save you a lot of pain in the long run. Let it be your guide this year, don’t go by your feelings or even “use” God to do what you want and say God told you so. Instead, make your decisions based on the unfailing principles of His Word and it will be a truly happy new year! Join us Sunday mornings at 10:45 in the “log cabin” church between State College & Lewistown at the corner of Mountainback Rd & Rt.322. Check our website out at nittanybaptist.org a

Pennsylvania Equine Showcase 2014 January 9, 10, and 11

Thursday, January 9th Equine Arena 6:00 p.m. Opening Ceremonies Presented by Karen Orloff-Yatsko with Open Gate Equestrian Team presenting the Colors 6:15 p.m. Salute to America – Karen Orloff-Yatsko of Peaceful Valley Equestrian Center riding Indepen-Dance 6:30 p.m. Celtic Cowgirl Dream – Open Gate Equestrian Team 6:45 p.m. Pretty in Pink - A Dressage Quadrille Peaceful Valley Equestrian Team Empowering Breast Cancer Awareness 7:00 p.m. Competitive Jumping Challenge 7:15 p.m. Rockin’ and Ridin’ - Billy Idol Tribute – Colleen Shelly, Nexus Natural Dressage 7:30 p.m. A Masquerade Ball – Bear Creek Equestrian Drill Team 7:45 p.m. Victorian Ladies Aside – Side Saddle Presentation 8:00 p.m. CATRA Miniature Horse Extravaganza Friday, January 10th Equine Arena 6:00 p.m. Opening Ceremonies Presented by Karen Orloff-Yatsko with Open Gate Equestrian Team presenting the Colors 6:15 p.m. Salute to America – Karen Orloff-Yatsko of Peaceful Valley Equestrian Center riding Indepen-Dance 6:30 p.m. Celtic Cowgirl Dream – Open Gate Equestrian Drill Team 6:45 p.m. Pretty in Pink – A Dressage Quadrille Peaceful Valley Equestrian Team Empowering Breast Cancer Awareness 7:00 p.m. Rockin’ and Ridin’ - Billy Idol Tribute – Colleen Shelly, Nexus Natural Dressage 7:15 p.m. A Masquerade Ball – Bear Creek Equestrian Team 7:30 p.m. The Island Long Riders – Mounted Cowboy Shooting 8:00 p.m. Victorian Ladies Aside – Side Saddle Presentation 8:30 p.m. CATRA Miniature Horse Extravaganza Saturday, January 11th Equine Arena 12:30 p.m. Opening Ceremonies Presented by Karen Orloff-Yatsko with Open Gate Equestrian Team presenting the Colors 12:45 p.m. Salute to America – Karen Orloff-Yatsko of Peaceful Valley Equestrian Center riding Indepen-Dance 1:00 p.m. Celtic Cowgirl Dream – Open Gate Equestrian Team 1:15 p.m. Competitive Jumping Challenge 1:45 p.m. Rockin’ and Ridin’ - Billy Idol Tribute – Colleen Shelly, Nexus Natural Dressage 2:00 p.m. A Masquerade Ball – Bear Creek Equestrian Drill Team 2:15 p.m. The Island Long Riders – Mounted Cowboy Shooting 3:15 p.m. Victorian Ladies Aside – Side Saddle Presentation 3:30 p.m. CATRA Miniature Horse Extravaganza

OBSERVATIONS . . . of an OLD MAN

We are living in divisive times, challenged daily to discern. Do we understand issues, the views of others? Is our thinking Positive or Negative? POSITIVES Love Sharing Light Understand Compassion Joy Good Trust

vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs.

God is: Love, Caring, Sharing

NEGATIVES Hate Greed Darkness Ridicule Cruelty Sadness Evil Fear Evil is: Fear, Greed, Hate

Albert Einstein: “ Peace cannot be found or kept by Force. It can only be achieved by Understanding”

“Fair & Balanced” means Spin gets Equal Time

Peter J. Moses

The Valley, January 2015

2014 Volunteer Of The Year

Dave Wilson

Coins, Precious Metal and a Little of this and That

Coming To America ?

The past six weeks have been nightmarish for the citizens of Russia. Yes, I know, we are “supposed” to consider all Russians as evil enemies and awful people. However, if you look beyond Governments and politicians, you will discover that the average Russian citizen looks and acts pretty much just like we do. They have the same fears and concerns, and their lives are not all dissimilar from our own. One big difference between Russians and Americans is that people who live in the Soviet Union are ACCUSTOMED to hard times. That type of conditioning is currently being tested by the recent and severe PLUNGE in value of the “Ruble,” Russia’s main currency unit. Since early November, the purchasing power of the Ruble has deteriorated nearly 50%, and it is quite likely that the value of their currency will continue to erode, as their main export, oil, continues its downward spiral. The effects of oil’s decline has thrown the Russian population into a panic. Imagine awakening one morning to discover that 18% of your life’s savings had

disappeared overnight. That is EXACTLY what happened to the Russian people one evening in mid-December! The immediate result of the Ruble’s declining value, was a nearly immediate and across-theboard skyrocketing of consumer prices. Russian citizens were scrambling to turn their currency into anything of REAL value that they could find BEFORE prices rose even higher. People were stripping stores of electronics, clothing, cars, medicines, and especially food. Very quickly, Russian businesses began to close, as they no longer wanted to sell their products for a currency that was crashing in value. Commerce came to a screeching halt. Gold, Silver and valuable (precious metal) jewelry were likely still accepted, but, if the only medium people had to trade was paper Rubles, their purchasing power quickly disintegrated. Yes, I’m sure you can now see where this article is leading. First, almost NOTHING about the current plight of Russian citizens is being reported by the American media. Reports can

be found on the internet, but you have to make an active search. There is no question that American Bankers would never want U-S citizens to see what can happen when a country’s currency is under attack. That would make even MORE people want to prepare for the (suspected and expected) inevitable devaluation of the paper currency in which they store most of their financial wealth. After all, “doing without” is not on anyone’s dream list, and most people, given advance warning, would do whatever they could to ease the pain of such a severe monetary challenge. For those of you who believe that this could never happen in the good ole USA....please remember that the dollar has suffered a nearly 97% drop in purchasing power since the Federal Reserve Act became law in 1913. That devaluation has happened gradually, over 100+ years. Having the type of rapid currency collapse that presently plagues Russia is NOT AT ALL outside the realm of possibility in this country. The question is, what preparations will YOU make to protect yourself and your family against just such a possibility? a

Elks Club to raise awareness of PACleanWays of Mifflin our river cleanups and to get boats County has named Bryson Wagand teams involved. Bryson looks ner as Volunteer of the Year for forward to making the Juniata 2014. Bryson is a member of the Granville Volunteer Fire Company River a cleaner, safer environment for all future recreational users. River Rescue Squad and of the a Lewistown Elks Club. Bryson has helped with the last three River Cleanups we have done in the Juniata River from Granville to Lewistown. He has gone to meetings with other fire company rescue squads Bryson Wagner, PACleanWays Volunteer of the Year! and the

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The Truth Has No Agenda

The Valley, January 2015

Teach Your Children Well

Standing in the checkout line, paying for groceries, you whip out your plastic and swipe your card under the watchful eye of your observant children. What is their interpretation of this exchange? As you manage your financial affairs, you had made the decision to either debit or charge that particular purchase. Let me ask however, do your children understand that as a responsible adult that you never spend more than you earn? Do they see and understand the difference between debited purchases versus charged purchases? In their eyes it all looks the same. At some point in their young lives, you need to begin to instruct them about money. Although you may be the poster child for the ultimate, astute money manager, how will your children learn these traits if

not taught? They certainly are not taught how to handle money and finances in school, and in reality, our society breeds anything but sound financial acumen into its members. The prevailing attitude is: spend if you have it, spend it even if you don’t have it! Why wait to purchase it? Charge and get it now, pay for it later. Why look at you, you have the gold/ black/platinum card, woo-hoo! You must be someone special, living the good life! Yet all the while, the sad truth is that most of society is sorely burdened with mountainous debt. I am reminded of the proverb that says that the borrower is a slave to the lender. Many of us have learned this lesson through the school of hard knocks. Let’s commit to reversing this trend for our children’s sake by train-

ing them in the way they should go, which oddly enough is counter to what the world is telling them they should do. There is virtue in living within one’s means. To live within one’s means

is prudent. Prudence is defined as the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason, shrewdness in the management of affairs, skill and good judgment in the use of resources. Prudence naturally leads to Conservatism. To conserve something is to manage wisely, preserve or save. Yet prudence and conservatism are looked upon as dirty words these days—old-fashioned ideas that should be tossed aside. Both these concepts are summed up in Stewardship, which is the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving. Is your children’s, (and your) financial future and well-being worth working toward, managing, and protecting? No doubt, it is, so let’s explore some ways to instill concepts and practices into your family life in order to breed good money management habits

and understanding among family members. Consider giving your kids a small allowance every other week. This allowance is given to teach money management principles only and is not contingent upon behavior. Any jobs that the kids perform on your behalf for which you would pay someone else to do, pay your children for that work as well. You don’t have to pay them the going rate, since they are unskilled, but you are teaching them the value of work

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by doing this. Monies your children receive are to be split into four envelopes titled as follows: Tithe, Long Term Savings, Emergency Fund, and Spending. The amount you give your children is not as important as instructing them with regard to the use of it. Hypothetically, let’s propose an allowance of $10 every two weeks divided out as follows: $1 tithe, $1 long term savings, $2 emergency fund and $6 spend-

Continued on page 30

The Valley, January 2015

New Year, New Fur Kids Elwood and Murphy The new year is here and it is a time for new beginnings. If you’ve read Wayne’s Editor’s column, you know that Wayne and I lost our best buddy, Murphy, just ten days before Christmas. We were both heartbroken and feeling very lonely and lost. Going through the motions of Christmas was strained, but we made it. When Murphy passed, Wayne went from “I’m never getting another dog,” to “Life is miserable without a dog,” and so, we began the search for a new best friend.

Mom’s buddy, Murphy #2.

Murphy was a blue Weimaraner and Wayne had decided that he’d like another Weim. They aren’t an easy dog to raise and un-

Elwood the clown enjoys sleeping with his head upside down.

less you are extremely energetic (we’re not) and/or plan to have someone home most of the time to give it the attention and human

interaction it needs as a breed (that’s where Wayne comes in), I don’t advise getting one. They often suffer from separation anxiety and can be quite destructive and vocal. We decided that we didn’t want to raise a puppy, so we started the search for a younger Weimaraner that was in need of rescue or up for adoption. After a couple failed attempts, we found a pair of Weimies in Virginia Beach who’s owner loved them, but due to changing family circumstances, just couldn’t give them the time and attention they needed anymore. Two Weimies? I wasn’t sure I was up for this. The owner assured us that we could take them on a trial basis and he’d be glad to take them back and try to find another good home for them should it not work out, so we decided to give it a shot. Our new boys, Elwood and Murphy (imagine that—another Murphy!) were introduced and handed over to us on New Year’s Day at a friends’s home in Falls Church, VA. Oh what an exciting New Year’s Day for us and a sad one for their previous owner and his family. We met the beautiful fur kids and loved them right away, although we didn’t really know what to expect with two large, energetic dogs. Their owner assured us that they were very well-behaved for Weims, and so we headed for home. They were both asleep in the back of our SUV before we even left my friend’s development in Virginia. After getting them home, we realized we’ve got some challenges ahead. These guys had a fenced in yard at their home and went out

often and played in the yard until they were ready to come in. We don’t have a fenced in yard, so we have to walk them on a leash and that’s something they aren’t entirely used to. They pull quite a bit, but mainly because one is trying to find the best sniffing spot before the other. Where Elwood is concerned, there’s a bit of competition between them. They aren’t siblings. Elwood came to the family when he was 8 months old and Murphy came to the family from a Weim Rescue when Elwood was about 3. Elwood is now 5 and Murphy is 6. Murphy is much more mature and laid back. In fact, I’m amazed at how laid back he is for a Weimaraner. Elwood, well....Elwood is a clown and has a big personality. He’s also been a bit of challenge the past two and half days with trying to establish a routine in going out

All Elwood needs is a bowl full of snacks and a beer while he enjoys his favorite TV program.

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to go potty and in sharing toys. Things to work on. We have things to work on too. It has been years since I had to worry about Murphy #1 getting into anything that I had sitting around, so I had to doggie proof the house, and I am still noticing things that I need to put up. Elwood is tall, so tall in fact that his previous owners nicknamed him “Stilts.” So, it’s not hard at all for him to see the top of our counters and island by just lifting his head a little bit. We must train ourselves again that no food can ever be left out on counElwood sleeps on Dad’s lap. ters. Murphy #1 was a counter surfer too in his younger years so him. Poor Murphy! We found at least we are aware at how they out that he likes carrots, so maybe can clear a counter—even a deep some healthy veggies like carrots one. and green beans will be his snacks Murphy #2 is a bit overweight and it’s clear that he’s completely motivated by food, so Continued on page 11 the new year will bring a diet for

The Valley, January 2015

PA Horse World Expo If you are looking for a horse related activity, but weather is still keeping you from getting out and riding, consider the 13th Annual PA Horse World Expo at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. The Horse Expo brings leading equine clinicians and entertainers to the area along with hundreds of vendors and equines of all breeds. It is a great event to see friends and to mingle with other horse enthusiasts while shopping or attending seminars. Make your list of everything that Santa did not bring you for Christmas, and see if you can pick up everything you need for you and your horses at the Expo. There are many gifts items, clothes, tack, horse trailers, and even vendors who could build you a new barn. The Horse Expo opens with a drill team presentation of the National Anthem, followed by clinician presentations in both arenas and in the Expo Hall. Some of the clinicians for 2015 include Guy McLean, Craig Cameron, Kenny Harlow, Patrick King, Suzanne Myers, and the great entertainer Tommy Turvey. There will also

be exciting carriage races, drill teams, freestyle dressage, bridleless riding, and other displays of horsemanship. Stallion Avenue and breed demonstrations include such breeds as Fjord, American Quarter Horse, Friesian, Gypsy Vanner, Haflinger, Mustang, Thoroughbred and more. Stars of The Thoroughbred Makeover held earlier this year will participate in a multi-discipline judged challenge. There will also be a Trail Champion Challenge for riders on various breeds of horses to compete for cash and prizes. The Pa Horse Expo has something for every horse person. The Pa Horse World Expo is held this year March 5-8th. Hours are Thursday: noon-8pm, Friday: 10am-8pm, Saturday: 9am-8pm and Sunday: 9am-5pm. Admission is Adults: $12, Ages 6-12: $6 and children under 6 are admitted for free. There is a separate charge for advanced tickets to see the evening performance of the Theatre Equus held on Friday and Saturday at 8:30pm. This performance is professionally choreographed and scripted. The

Theatre Equus celebrates the unique beauty of the equine in an exciting and entertaining theatrical performance. If you would like to combine your love of horses with an educational pet event, check out the National Pet Expo. The Pet Expo is also being held at the Farm Show Complex on March 6-8th. This event brings in leading pet trainers, clinicians and performers as well as many vendors. If you are an animal lover, these two

great events are held at a time of the year when we are all ready to get out and do something, so plan

to head to Harrisburg in March with the family and friends. a

Jason Charles of Dillsburg, Pa on “Ace” competing in a previous Pa Horse Expo Trail Challenge. He has competed and placed in multiple events including the Mustang Million Challenge, Susquehanna Valley Reining Horse Association, National Reining Horse Association, Equine Affaire Versatile Horse & Rider Challenge in Ohio, AQHA Ranch Horse competitions, and the Pa Timed Events in Team Roping.

In 2014, he placed second and third at the Maryland Horse Expo. Also in 2014, his wife Crystal placed first with Jason placing second at the Harrisburg event. If you attend the 2015 Pa Horse Expo, plan to watch Jason compete in the Trail Challenge event.

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Photo Courtesy Onawa Rock Photography

The Valley, January 2015

Hillside Orchard News and Comments by Iddo M. Hostetler Hello to all of The Valley readers from Hillside Orchard where the trees are bare, the horses have hair; where the people work with care and try to treat people fair as they work in a pair. Already seed and plant catalogs are coming out of mail boxes full force with their brightly colored, tempting and almost irrisistable pictures. We are attempting to save more of our own seed, but I still like to look at them, especially at this time of year. We also learned through experience that if you are buying from a seed company or nurserym

that by getting your order in a couple months ahead, you stand a much better chance of getting what you ordered rather than getting a sold out notice. This is also the time of year to plan where to plant those trees when they do arrive. Remember the old saying, “a good plan is half of the work.” Another saying is “Success is nothing but hard work accompanied by a good plan.” While there is some variation among fruit trees, the rule of thumb is fruit trees will not tolerate wet feet, except pears. So

Editors Corner from page 2

legs gave out and he couldn’t get up. I didn’t know what to do, but for the first time I became scared that my best friend wouldn’t be with me much longer. I carried him back to the house, and after collapsing in the kitchen from the exertion, both of us laid there for several minutes, and then he got up like nothing had happened. I was relieved, but still now carried a nagging fear. It seemed through the summer he had good days and bad days—days he ate like he always had, and days his food would sit for hours before he finished it. He also seemed to want someone sitting with him more as his only activity was going out for bathroom breaks, and then back on the couch. He didn’t act like he was in pain, but now looking back, he must have been. Then a couple weeks ago, another episode with his back legs failing to support him, and it worried both Lynn and I terribly, but he recovered, and the next day seemed normal. This past Sunday when he woke up from a nap, once again his back legs wouldn’t work. He didn’t recover this time. On Monday he crossed over, and I am hoping that once again he’ll be running and romping like he did when he was a pup.

and a few cats, but they were pets and that was the extent of it. Once I started working from home back in 2009, the relationship with Murphy changed. He became a much better behaved, and visibly more content dog having his person around all the time. As Lynn went off to work at PSU every day, Murphy became my shadow. Wherever I was in the house, he would be no more than a few feet away. Every couple hours he would nudge me for a walk or a trip around the yard. Except for a week each year for vacation, Murphy became part of who I was, everything I did was carefully balanced with his needs. A bit over a year ago, the stairs in the house became too hard for him to navigate due to arthritis and the fact that he had endured two ACL surgeries. So he started sleeping on the couch downstairs, and that was a sad time. I missed the little breathing sounds at night as he slept not three feet from me in his dog bed. Still though, he seemed like a happy dog, he had medication for his arthritis, and still was young at heart. A few months ago, it became apparent that he was having more issues. Back in late June while on one of our long walks, his hind

when possible, avoid areas that water lays for extended periods of time. Another reason to go on the high side is spring frosts. Most times you don’t have to worry about this, but if those late spring frosts show up, being on the high side can gain you a couple of degrees, which can be all it takes for a maker or a taker. However, if you don’t have high ground, I wouldn’t recommend that this keeps you from planting trees. If you have an interest in history like I do, you probably noticed that most old homesteads still have traces of an old orchard, usually a couple acres in size. Today it seems that the supermarkets have replaced most of those fruit plots. However, with more and more people becoming interested in what they eat and how it was raised, I suspect that you might see more of these types of safe food insurances in the near future. Another thing that I have a keen interest in is the American Chestnut, once a dominant tree in America. It is now forgotten by I had never allowed an animal to become so much a part of who I was before—I had never loved an animal like I did him. He understood me, and often times would act on my thoughts without my needing to speak, it was like we worked in unison. I realize that we are both very lucky that Murphy lived a good life for almost 15 years, he would have reached 15 on Christmas Eve. But the breed standard is only 10-12 years, so we were given extra time. Still though the pain is severe—I am heartbroken, empty and lost. I no longer recognize life without him. It is going to take a long time to get back in a routine. It has been said that dogs are a man’s best friend, but it is so much more than that, and I am not smart enough to put it into words...I miss him. a

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most people; a thing of the past that you read about in history. Some years ago I discovered to my surprise and delight that there are still areas where you can find the original American Chestnut saplings. Although most of them die after a couple years growth, they keep sending up new root sprouts. So it is my intention to some day plant some and experiment and see if I can get them to grow Time for New Year’s resolutions again already. Well, I usually don’t make many, however; I have a list of wise sayings that I will resolve to study and practice more. I will also share them with you. “The people whom I have seen succeed best in life have always been cheerful and hopeful. People who went about their business with a smile on their faces.” ~Charles Kingsley “We can accomplish anything within our ability if we but think we can.” ~George Adams

New Year, New Fur Kids Continued from page 9 for a while. Elwood turns down the carrots, but Murphy is glad to eat anything that he doesn’t want. After Elwood eats dinner or breakfast, Murphy always checks his bowl to make sure he got it all. What a character! We’ve already discovered some cute traits that they have. Murphy likes to sleep with his face under a blanket or tucked down between your legs. I guess he likes to keep his nose warm! Elwood often sleeps with his head upside down and sometimes he sits like a human (see picture). My friend Jill who trains Weims says that hers do this all the time. It’s pretty comical. The joke is that all he needs is a bowl of snacks and a beer while he’s watching TV. We have not yet tested the “home alone” thing. That will come sometime next week after they are well settled in. They will also get a trip to the vet for doggie checkups.

“We are either the master or the victims of our attitudes, it is a matter of personal choice. Who we are today is the result of choices we made yesterday. Tomorrow, we will become what we choose today.” ~John Maxwell “There is wisdom in the habit of looking at the bright side of life.” ~Father Flanagan “Outlook determines outcome and attitude determines action.” ~Warren Wiersbe “We know so little about the future that to worry about it would be the height of foolishness.” ~C.H. Spurgeon “Worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life, faith is the oil.” ~E. Stanley Jones “Often Attitude is the only difference between success and failure.” ~John Maxwell a

Oh the joy that I see in Wayne’s face since bringing these boys home is just great. He is always smiling and laughing at them and loves having them cuddle up to him on the couch. I’m sure some of the joy will wear off when they are bugging him for walks several times a day, but for now, he’s enjoying the moment. It will be interesting to talk to him after my first day back to work and he’s alone with them all day. Unlike Murphy #1, they are early risers and that’s a bit of a challenge for us since we are night owls and usually sleep in on days off. I guess those days are over until we can get Elwood and Murphy into a new routine. I better wrap up here so I leave room for pictures. I’ll keep you posted in future issues on Elwood (yes, named for one of the Blues Brothers) and Murphy’s antics and adjustment into our home. a

The Valley, January 2015

VICTORIAN HOME DRAWS ATTENTION IN EDGEWOOD ESTATES by Kim Rickert You know you’ve driven by it and maybe even stopped to stare! The large (newer) Victorian house on Park Drive in Edgewood Estates has been the object of many admiring glances since it was built by Rick and Sherry Wagner in 2000, owners of Summerwood Homes. One of the first homes on this side of Park Drive, the house was built on 1.17 acres with part of the ground still wooded. The back yard is fenced off and divided from the wooded section but still benefits from the shade and beauty of the trees. The home is a two story with over 2900 square feet above grade and approximately 1067 finished below grade. As you enter into the front foyer, you will be in awe of the two story opening with a beautiful antique chandelier gracing the space. The dining room on the left has a matching crystal chandelier and is open to the kitchen, separated only by a breakfast bar and glass-front hanging cabinets. While the foyer and dining room have beautiful oak hardwood floor, the kitchen is more practical with ceramic tile floors. Recessed and under cabinet lighting make the kitchen a great room to prepare meals. A powder room, first floor laundry and large walk-in pantry are also on this end of the house. The front parlor is used as a sitting room or could be a music room. You will want to

spend many evenings by the (gas) fireplace reading or watching tv in the family room with built-in bookcases to stash your books. Throughout the home, crown molding and oak trim is used to add a custom look to the rooms. The oversized two car garage is attached at the rear in an “L” shape to the house, and has a walk-up storage area. The second floor is reached by an enclosed spiral staircase that extends to all three levels of the house. The master bedroom includes a private bath, two walkin closets and access to the back staircase. Next to the master bedroom is an exercise room. Two additional bedrooms share a full bath, and a third room overlooks the foyer and is used as a craft room. The walk-up attic could easily be finished for another level of living space. Back down the stairs, you will find the full basement with a large rec room that has walk-out French doors to the patio and pool area. The salt-water pool is easy to maintain and has a large patio surrounding it.

Storage area underneath the garage makes an easy place to stash patio furniture in the winter time. The basement also includes a full bath and two office spaces. The home is heated and cooled with an energy efficient geo-thermal system—using only about $800 per year in electric for heating and cooling! Never worry about a big oil bill in this house! Location is a big factor in buying a home, and this house has a convenient location just off Rte 322—only 22 miles from State College! Commuters will love the fact that this home costs just a fraction of what it would cost if it was located in Centre County! An easy drive to Lewistown and the local schools, the big Victorian in Edgewood Estates has a lot to offer the next owners! Call Kim for a personal tour of this beauty! a

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The Valley, January 2015

Understanding the Constitution by David Molek

Random Constitutional Ramblings Over the holidays, I get to thinking about completing yearend tasks, creating to-do lists and reflecting on past year’s events. I thought I would do that with my column areas of interest. I may digress off strict constitutional issues, but here goes. Starting with our own Commonwealth, our House of Representatives has 119 Republicans and 84 Democratic members. Our Pennsylvania Senate has 30 Republicans and 20 Democrats. Consensus seems to be that our legislative branch is both more Republican and more Conservative. We can only hope. Pennsylvania is one of the few states where a Democrat was elected Governor. I believe it had more to do with Joe Paterno than with good conservative government. With Governor Wolf, we

will see higher taxes and fees, more money thrown at education rather than solving the real issues and even more entitlements and welfare. Obama’s amnesty for illegal aliens makes me sick. Illegals aren’t immigrants, they’re criminals. Whether they call it amnesty or prosecutorial discretion, constitutionally it stinks. Congress does not appear to be interested in lifting a finger to challenge our dictator. Our editor’s libertarian ideas look better each day. Obama threw our intelligence community under the bus. Senator Feinstein’s actions of releasing the CIA report will cause deaths. Enhanced interrogations were taught in the United States Army in 1969. I learned how to waterboard as an interrogation technique back then. It works and

does not cause serious injury or death. Obama’s race-baiting politics has thrown municipal, county and state law enforcement officers under the bus. Obama diverts attention from his failed social programs. Obama has led us to an $18 trillion debt. The rule of law is ignored. We need to secure our borders. Obama has created more “takers” than “makers”. We need to audit the Federal Reserve. The radical liberal Obama agenda has proven disastrous in both domestic and foreign areas. Repeal Obama care in full. Obama is, in my mind, undoubtedly the worst president in my lifetime. I recall when I thought Jimmy Carter was bad. Remember the “stimulus” and the “shovel-ready jobs”. Remember you can “keep your doctor”. Ask

any physician what he or she thinks of Obamacare. Obama caused our credit to be downgraded. He has divided our nation. We need our Congress to pass good laws, repeal his bad laws and make Obama veto them. Hope they have the guts instead of just buckling to the beltway mentality. We have domestic decline. We have international stature decline. There is overregulation of our economic activity. There are persistent efforts to evade or overthrow constitutional constraints. The promise of a “fundamental change” is no accident. Obama has lay siege to our constitutional form of government, our society of freedoms and our very way of life. Boehner and McConnell’s’ actions strongly suggest there is not much difference between parties in Washington DC. It is my opinion that any elected Republican official that supports the

leadership of the pair is not part of the solution, but is part of the problem. The Republican Party needs to save itself from disgrace and our nation from ruin. Consider Obama’s “jokes” as appointed Ambassadors. Susan Rice! Elizabeth Warren! Hillary and Benghazi! Normalization of relations with Cuba! Court martial Bergdahl! Time to really clean house? How long will our Supreme Court let Obama make up the law as he goes along? We have Holder /Obama selective enforcement. Where is the conservative conscience? It seems we have traded Christian liberty for dictatorial rule. Where are all the God-honoring patriots out there? Ronald Reagan said it best, “Government is not the solution to the problem, government is the problem”. There are just so many more problems Obama has created that I become discouraged just writing about them. I am hopeful that 2015 brings more people to realize that our country is going downhill fast. The November election gave us some hope, but it seems to be fading fast. Happy New Year to all. a

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The Valley, January 2015

[c] obtain a license to sell beer, ale, wine and spirits [d] house unwed, unaccompanied ladies

JANUARY 2015 Mifflin County History Trivia Stories & Advertising Lure Readers

Much of what we know about daily life in Mifflin County comes from the pages of the local weekly newspapers. The Lewistown Gazette, The Democrat & Sentinal, Lewistown Republican, McVeytown Journal, plus many others informed readers across Mifflin County in the 19th century. Local, state and national news integrated with pages of advertising and definitive editorial comment lured and kept readers coming back each week. One of the sensational stories of the age comes from the 1880s – the Sleigh Ride Murder Trial. Jingling bells and the “clip-clop” of old Dobbin prancing through 19th Century snow-covered streets conjure images of an innocent Victorian era. Don’t be deceived by the trappings of nostalgia, however. This event, a holiday sleigh ride, resulted in charges of murder and manslaughter brought by the Commonwealth in Mifflin County’s Court of Common Pleas. The near-lifeless body of a man was discovered bruised and battered on a snowy street beyond Yeagertown late Christmas Day in 1886. He died just days later. The local newspaper described the affair as a “wretchedly unwholesome scandal” that resulted in

“…horrible death” An inquest followed. The investigation of the Coroner’s jury led to a sensational trial the next year in the county courthouse on Monument Square. While researching the story, it is difficult not to notice the other items that appear in the news, which gives a tenor of the times. Here are a few examples of news items or ads that appeared along side the Sleigh Ride Murder Case in 1887. 1. The M’Veytown Journal carried an item dated April 28, 1887 from an obituary published in another newspaper. The Journal quoted, “He was an upright Christian, a good citizen, and an ardent patriot, but of limited information with regard to _____.” This limited information caused his death. What killed the poor fellow? [a] a horse [b] a circular saw [c] a steam engine [d] a step ladder 2. The Democrat & Sentinel reported on January 14, 1887 that the following individuals and establishments were permitted to do something: the National House, Lewistown; S. S. Brown, Milroy; J. A. Brisbin, Mattawana; M. L. Litzell, PRR Junction and J. B. Hummell, Decatur. The Coleman House in Lewistown was denied permission. What was the issue? [a] each wanted to allow traveling salesman a place to set up their wares [b] open free lunch counters

The Logan Guards - The Civil War’s First Defenders from Mifflin County, Pennsylvania by author Forest K. Fisher tells the story of this Mifflin County militia company. $17.75 plus PA Sales Tax and $3 S&H - Available at these locations: Mifflin County Historical Society, 1 W. Market Street, Lewistown, PA 17044 or - Purchase with PayPal, visit our web site at www.mccoyhouse.com, click on STORE - Also the JVACC Gift Shop, Historic Courthouse, Lewistown, PA. For more information: Call MCHS Office at 717-242-1022 or info@mifflincountyhistoricalsociety.org a

3. The Democrat & Sentinel reported earlier in January that Rev. B. F. Brown brought a gift to the newspaper’s editor, for which the editor was very grateful for the “toothsome” gift. What was given? [a] a large pickled beef tongue [b] a bundle of homegrown celery [c] a Juniata eel [d] a jar of apple butter 4. The Journal advertised Gilmore’s Remedies in 1887 available at Forgy Bros. Gilmore cured about anything through a variety of special compounds, claiming for example “One teaspoonful will relieve the worst case of asthma...” or “It is the best tonic for men, women or children...” or “CURES...all bowel complaints...” Which of these are NOT advertised as a Gilmore’s products? (There arefive true products and one dummy!) [a] Gilmore’s Female Weakness Cure [b] Gilmore’s Aromatic Wine [c] Gilmore’s Neuralgia Cure [d] Gilmore’s Magnetic Elixir [e] Gilmore’s Earwax Cleanser [d] Gilmore’s Pile Specific ANSWERS: 1.A 2.C 3.B 4.D

SOURCES: 1886/1887 editions the McVeytown Journal and the Democrat & Sentinel MCHS Archives a

A Judge Is A Law Student Who Marks His Own Examination Papers H. L. Mencken

Dairy Connection by Kelly Beck

Centre Count y Dair y Princess With winter set in, it is hard to get out and be active during the next few months. But keeping active is an important part to any day, and it is easy to do it, even when you can’t go outside. You could do jumping jacks or yoga right in your living room! Or, you could lift weights at home or go to a local gym. Any way you can get exercise is great. At least 60 minutes along with a healthy diet, including dairy, is the way to stay healthy. To help balance your diet, here are two easy and healthy recipes. Banana Nut Muffins 2 large bananas, very ripe 4 tablespoons honey 1/2 cup skim milk 1 large egg white 1 tbsp vegetable oil 3 tbsp yogurt 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped 1/4 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 2 1/2 tsp baking powder 3/4 cup rolled oats 1 cup whole wheat flour DIRECTIONS: Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Line muffin cups with 12 paper inserts or spray with oil spray. In a medium-sized bowl, peel and mash bananas. Add honey, egg white, milk, oil and yogurt. Mix well. In another bowl, mix flour, rolled oats, baking soda, salt, baking powder and chopped walnuts. Mix well. Add wet ingredients

to dry and mix just until moistened well. Divide batter evenly between the 12 muffin cups and bake 18-22 minutes until slightly brown on tops or until desired doneness. Remove muffins from pan and let cool completely on wire rack. Store in refrigerator or freeze. Easy Broccoli Quiche 2 tablespoons butter 1 onion, minced 1 teaspoon minced garlic 2 cups chopped fresh broccoli 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 4 eggs, well beaten 1 1/2 cups milk 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 tablespoon butter, melted DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Over mediumlow heat, melt butter in a large saucepan. Add onions, garlic and broccoli. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally until the vegetables are soft. Spoon vegetables into crust and sprinkle with cheese. Combine eggs and milk. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in melted butter. Pour egg mixture over vegetables and cheese. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until center has set. a

After two years of researching local history, collecting community photos, documenting the findings and reviewing his own experience, Paul Fagley’s book on the history of Derry Township Community Park is available. Entitled “Memories of Kishacoquillas Park,” the book presents the heyday times of this community landmark, which was once a popular amusement park, through more than 300 pages of color photos, illustrations and printed memorabilia. The idea for the book came to Fagley in 2010 after giving a walking tour of the park for the local Boyscout Camporee. “Memories of Kishacoquillas Park” is priced at $32.95 plus tax. Contact the Mifflin County Historical Society at 242-1022 or at info@mifflincountyhistoricalsociety.org Books can be purchased from the Historical Society office, at the Chamber of Commerce Gift Shop in the Historic Courthouse or at Friendship Book Store in the K-Mart Plaza, Burnham.

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The Valley, January 2015

Late Season Hunting

Deer can still be harvested in the frigid cold months of late December and January. December 26th, the day after Jolly Saint Nick came to town, people are getting their bows and Muzzleloaders out for a chance to harvest a deer in the second season. It can be done. The hardest part is dealing with the bitter cold and wind. My recommendation is stocking up with hand warmers, some type of heat source and good base layer clothing like Under Armor. We

start your second season hunting off. Now, we all know that all the crops that may be left in the farmers field are not too appealing to the PA whitetail this time of year, but as big as the acorn crop was this year, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure there are plenty of acorns left in the woods for you to set up by to ambush a whitetail. A ground blind with a single burner mini propane stove can keep you warm in the coldest of temperatures all day long. Ground blinds can protect you if the snow

let alone running through the trees. You will do more missing and laughing at each other than anything else. Muzzleloaders are not only fun to shoot in the late season, but are very fun to shoot any time of the year. You can buy a 100 round box of round balls for $10.99 and a one lb. tub of Pyrodex powder for $29.99 to $39.99.

Some really fine animals can be harvested in the late season after the woods quiet down from regular gun season and the number of people in the woods drops significantly.

carry all of those items here at VSO. The most important thing about hunting the late season is that deer are going to be stockpiling their food, getting ready for the harsh cold dead of winter. So, if you have a great source of acorns or chestnuts on the property you hunt, I would suggest that would be a great place to

starts flying around as well. Another strategy to hunting late season is to get a group of friends together and put on some pushes to get the deer up and moving. This will be very hard with a bow, but can be extremely fun with the Muzzleloader. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard enough to shoot a deer standing still with a Muzzleloader,

Stop in at VSO and stock up on all your Muzzleloading needs like pan primers, flints, powder, round balls, bullets, ball starters, easy loaders and much more. Even though I am currently out of stock in Muzzleloaders, I can get CVA and Traditions in line Muzzleloaders and Traditions flintlock Muzzleloaders. So, if you know you are interested in hunting the late season with a Muzzleloader, that would be a great gift idea for Christmas next year. Have Fun, God bless and be Late season primitive firearms means a muzzle loading, flintlock rifle shown here. A piece safe this late hunting of flint is sparked into a pan of powder, which ignites the charge in the gun. season. a

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The Valley, January 2015

Rediscover Your Partner Refresh Your Relationship

Does it seem difficult to keep your relationship fresh? Day after day, living with the same person and having what seems the same conversations, over and over? Do you want to keep your love alive and inventive? I believe the answer lies in curiosity and mystery. Is there a time when your partner did something that made you wonder what he or she was thinking? Have you ever looked into your partner’s eyes, curious about what thoughts were circling there? You may know your partner better than you know anybody else, but there are still mysterious aspects of your partner. You can never fully understand your sweetheart. I believe that no matter how openly you communicate and no matter how long you’ve been

together, your partner will always be a mystery. There is much mystery within us all. There are unconscious aspects, which Carl Jung called “the shadow,” or disowned parts of your experience. Hidden beneath day-to-day words and actions, you and your sweetheart contain great mysteries. I believe these mysteries provide the doorway to keeping your relationship fresh. If you keep going through the same motions, treating your relationship like a routine, then it will feel like a routine. What if you broke that pattern? You both are living in an unprecedented moment; this moment has never before existed. This moment is fresh and new. Take this moment to look at your beloved in a way you never looked at him or her. Really look with fresh eyes. You’ll see so

much detail you never appreciated before. This mysterious person contains many details you’ve lumped together with those you think you already know. I challenge you with this exercise: Look at your sweetheart in a new way. Really look with fresh eyes and get curious about him or her in this new moment. I believe you’ll see much more detail you’ve never appreciated before. Electric Sex • Sit face to face with your partner. Keep your eyes open and simply look at one another. Don’t make silly faces or speak. Simply place all your awareness on the mystery of your sweetheart. • It’s OK to blink. This isn’t a staring contest. This is an openhearted opportunity to observe and be observed – to see and be seen. • Breathe in and out slowly and simply observe. • Notice when your mind wanders. Notice arising thoughts that you move toward. Notice thoughts you move away from. • Continue to be aware. See your sweetheart for the first time – observe a mystery. • Practice this for ten minutes. Step into the Mystery When you’re done, take a few minutes to hold one another and notice your feelings. It’s not necessary to talk. Moving into words may take you and your partner out of the mystery of the heart and put you into the logic of the mind. Dwell in the mystery a few more minutes. In this mystery lies love’s freshness. I’d love to hear how this couple’s exercise went for you. a

Horse Massage by Phyllis Broadbent

How many of us have had a massage either by a family member or by a professional, and have felt the benefit of the massage? Our four legged friends feel the same way! kristin Croft, CEMT recently visited our farm in rural Alexandria and conducted a massage for our horse Ellie, a registered American Quarter Horse of America mare. Ellie has had some past injuries and for her previous owen, Ellie was used as a trail horse for a trail riding business, in Cook’s Forest, near

Clarion Pennsylvania. I stumbled on Kristin’s advertisement for her Keystone Equine Massage Therapy, and decided to give horse massage a try. How do horses become “body core?” According to Kristin, anything can cause soreness in a horse. maybe they played too hard, stood too long, were out of shape for a long trail ride, or perhaps had an injury of some sort. Whatever discipline your horse is, they can get “body sore.” The same as

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humans, horses are athletes and do get sore, after a workout or as a result of an injury. The first thing Kristin does is assess the horse by running her hands over the horse, starting with

light pressure on the neck and then, if needed, moving to more pressure. She also feels for trigger points.” “Trigger points” are located in the muscle tissue. To the human fingers, they feel like a little pea, or marble in the muscle. The key is to apply pressure to break these “trigger points” down. “Trigger points” restrict movement and cause a great deal of dis-

comfort. Once they are released there is the release of pain killing

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The Valley, January 2015

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The Valley, January 2015

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The Valley, January 2015

Joanne Wills-Kline Contentment Quest

The Humblest Tasks As we move through the opening days of the brand-spanking New Year, perhaps many are wondering what 2015 may hold personally, for family and friends, and for the greater world. Perhaps some are moving through the first days of New Year’s resolutions with great success, while others have already thrown their resolutions to the wind. My resolution usually consists of declaring a word that serves as the foundation for my year – such as “joy” thus striving to find joy in every day. This year I’ve chosen a slightly different approach. My word this year has become a phrase of sorts “hands in service.” You see, the word “hands” is very important to me on many levels. For many years, I earned my living as a massage therapist, so I’ve come to appreciate the influence of touch

and how our hands help us be of service to others. Every day, we all use our hands in service to some extent. Our hands can be the conduit through which we communicate, love, serve, and work. Through small acts of kindness, our hands can serve the greater good on many levels. Louisa May Alcott summed it up best when she said “The humblest tasks get beautified if loving hands do them.” As I move through 2015, I endeavor to use loving hands and a loving heart to be of service through small acts of kindness. As Mother Teresa once said, “… to do all things with great love” and as Mark Nepo said, “Doing small things with love is the atom of bravery.” I vow to be aware of, and act on, how I might be of service on the highest level.

Golden Eagle Days on Jacks and Stone Mountains by Laura Jackson President, Save Our Allegheny Ridges Until just recently, Jacks and Stone Mountains in Mifflin and Huntingdon Counties were proposed sites for up to 112 industrial wind turbines, strung along the tops of the two mountains for many miles. Since the summits of Jacks and Stone are very narrow, steep, and rocky, the two wind companies, E.ON and Volkswind, would have done major damage to the mountaintops and watersheds. Fortunately, thanks to the educational outreach of Save Our Allegheny Ridges and Friends of Jacks Mountain, the wind companies have not been able to procure many wind development leases and they recently withdrew their applications on the PJM Grid. In

November, E.ON decided to pull out completely and sent termination letters to the landowners who had leased. We hope that Volkswind will do the same and cancel their planned wind project of 20 turbines on Jacks Mountain. If you have any recent information about Volkswind’s plans, please call me at 814-652-9268 or email me at mljackson2@embarqmail.com (that’s a “q,” not a “g,” in embarqmail.com.) Meanwhile, hawk watchers on Jacks and Stone Mountains have experienced outstanding Golden Eagle migrations this fall. In the fall, Golden eagles fly south from Canada, using the winds

Ten guiding principles I will utilize for my hands of service are: 1. Learn from and model the life of the most humble teachers in history (Jesus, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Buddha, etc.) 2. Teach all that you can for the benefit of others 3. Seek wisdom, which is knowledge of what is true coupled with just judgment of action 4. Accept new ideas and change, not being stuck on what you knew before 5. Study moral principles and use moral principles as my guidepost for action 6. Share my core values and live them accordingly regardless of the circumstances 7. Practice at least one humble act each day 8. Provide positive and encouraging feedback instead of criticism 9. Realize the potential in others blowing from the Northwest and West. Winds from this direction produce good raptor flight days on Stone Mountain. When these winds have pushed Golden Eagles far enough south, they may use Jacks Mountain when the winds change to Southeast and East winds. Greg Grove and Nick Bolgiano, regular counters at Stone Mountain, report that they have a shot at their biggest Golden Eagle year. They had two great days with 22 Golden Eagles each on Nov. 2 and Nov. 12 – which rank in the top ten days ever. Their record high is 25 for one day, which they’ve experienced 4 times since 1995. As of December 7, their fall count was 142 Golden Eagles. Bald Eagles are also getting close to a record high this year. Counters on Jacks Mountain have already experienced a record-breaking year for Golden Eagle migration. They’ve counted 141 Golden Eagles as of December 8, 2014, which is an all-time yearly record – and the migration isn’t over yet. Just one day this fall, on October 31, counters saw 56 Golden Eagles fly over Jacks. The number counted so far this year sets 2014 as a record year. The next highest counts were 63 Golden Eagles counted in 1995 and 69 in 2012.

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10. Know that timing is everything and everyone excels at different times in life I encourage you too to examine the ten principles, listen to your heart if one of the principles resonates with you, and uncover a way to incorporate that principle into your daily life in 2015. An open, loving heart and mindful awareness pave the way to integrate the art of service through our everyday circumstances and life. As Thomas More once said “The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest.” Francois Fenelon understood that being of service, even in minute ways, can have a mammoth impact when done for God. Fenelon said “The smallest things become great when God requires them of us; they are small only in themselves; they are always great when they are done for God.” As 2015 waxes on, as our calendars begin to fill with obligations and tasks to accomplish, as the daily grind once again becomes the norm; will you consider joining me in the act of service… will you consider how you might use your hands of service? As you

ponder ways in which your heart and hands can serve in the highest capacity, I leave you with a few quotes as food for thought… “Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.” --Martin Luther King, Jr. “I long to accomplish a great and noble task; but my chief duty is to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.” --Helen Keller “Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.” --Saint Augustine And, one Scripture verse to keep fresh in your mind as you move through all that 2015 has to offer… “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. -- Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) Reference: http://www.tentmaker. org/Quotes/humilityquotes1.htm a

Darrell Smith, a long-time counter, was on Jacks on October 31st and experienced the historic Golden Eagle flight. Here is his account:

observation sheet started. The wind was from the SE at around 6 to 11 miles per hour. I could see approximately 22 Kilometers with 100% overcast skies and no precipitation. I put down the Harrier and the Red-tail and watched toward the north with Craig, hoping to have a good day. Fast forward to about 12:50pm, since we did not see a single raptor the rest of the morning. Craig and I remarked about how unusual it was that we were not seeing any raptors with a good SE wind, but we know the birds do what they want, when they want. As I said previously, we were both wondering if it was worth spending any more time on watch and then it happened. We saw a large bird coming from the north which turned out to be an adult Golden Eagle at 12:55. That bird started a parade of Golden Eagles that would last for over 2 ½ hours. I will now list the times and identification of Golden Eagles as A for Adult, Imm for Immature and U for Unknown maturity. It was extremely dark at times and overcast all day which made it hard to identify the maturity of many. Although many of the Eagles were at the limit of unaided vision

A HISTORIC DAY ON JACKS MOUNTAIN HAWK WATCH 10-31-14 Darrell Smith It was around 12:30pm Eastern Standard Time when I asked Craig Kochel whether he was going to stick around or head back home, which is a little over a 2 hour drive for him. He said that he was trying to make up his mind but hadn’t decided yet. We talked about the lack of raptors flying when we had a good SE wind. But don’t let me get ahead of myself. It was around 9:05am Eastern Standard Time on Friday, October 31st when I pulled into the parking lot at the Jacks Mountain Hawk Watch. I saw that Craig Kochel, a professor from Bucknell University was already on watch. Craig and I have spent many days on Jacks together and I enjoy his company very much. I said hello and asked him if had seen anything yet. He said that he saw a Female Northern Harrier and a Red-tailed Hawk. I spent a few minutes getting some things together and proceeded to get my

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The Valley, January 2015

Rehabilitation At A Higher Level HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital, located in Pleasant Gap, has been serving the region with the highest level of rehabilitation care for over 30 years. HealthSouth is a Joint Commission Accredited Hospital with specialty certifications in four rehabilitation programs: Stroke, Brain Injury, Parkinson’s disease and Heart Failure. The rehabilitation hospital provides inpatient and outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy after an illness, injury or surgery. The interdisciplinary rehabilitation team includes physicians, certified registered rehabilitation nurses, physical and occupational therapists, case managers and speech language pathologists. Additional support is available in the areas of nutrition, pharmacy and psychology. The team works together with the patient and family to reach rehabilitation goals and plan for the patient’s transition back to home and the community. At HealthSouth,

patients get three hours of therapy a day, with access to the most advanced technology available for rehabilitation. The rehabilitation team, special support, technology and shorter length of stay all contribute to a value-added patient experience and better outcomes; important measures in overall healthcare quality. HealthSouth Nittany Valley is one of only 15 hospitals in HealthSouth’s nationwide network of 103 rehabilitation hospitals to receive the corporation’s prestigious 2014 President’s Circle Award. This is the third consecutive year that the hospital has earned this distinction, which recognizes outstanding performance in development of clinical programs, quality of patient care services, employee retention and overall operational excellence. HealthSouth has outpatient clinics in Pleasant Gap and Lewistown. Learn more at NittanyValleyRehab.com. a

Horse Massage from page 16 endorphins, and the morse simply moves and feels better! Kristin uses many techniques to soften tight muscles as well. It depends on the horses’ reactions to certain techniques, as to whether she tries them, or continues with the techniques. She feels the horse move away from her (it hurts), moves towards her (it feels good), blinks their eyes or licks and chews with their mouth. Sometimes less pressure or a different type of technique will make a horse happier. Kristin uses her experience and the reactions of the horse, to decide which techniques are best. If only horses cour talk to us! We must “read” them by their actions and reactions. Kristin states that the benefits of horse massage include: increased range of motion, breakdown of scar tissue, improved performance, the alleviation of pain, and reduced swelling and inflammation in the muscle tissues. The benefits of stretching are: an increased “range of motion,” increase in circulation of the lymph and blood fluids, and improve-

ment in the length of the horse’s stride. What does Kristin look for the most in a horse? She looks for sensitivity to pressure, falling out, heat, welling, “trigger points” and overall muscle tightness or weakness. As for my AQHA mare Ellie, she loved the massage and stood quietly for it, without being tied or held. She only required being loosely tied for the beginning of the massage and as the massage progressed, she almost fell asleep. Kristin also put the saddle on Ellie and looked to see if there were places where my saddle could be causing problems for her on a long trail ride. Horses are no different from us humans, we avoid activities which cause pain, and love activities that make us feel good. Whether your horse is a barrel racer, jumper, trail horse, buggy horse, or simply a lawn or-

nament, all horses that show pain or discomfort can benefit from horse massage. a Kristin Croft, CEMT, of Keystone Equine Massage Therapy can be reached at (724) 422-6314 or at www.croftsbostons@yahoo.com. Kristin resides in Altoona with her own horses and three Boston Terrier dogs.

Regain Strength. Return Home. If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with activities of daily living, consider calling HealthSouth Nittany Valley today for a no-cost rehabilitation assessment. Our rehabilitation nurse liaison comes to you in your home, physician’s office or the hospital to determine if rehabilitation may be right for you. Conditions that can benefit include: • Bathing • Bowel and bladder problems • Chronic pain • Desire to return to previous level of functioning • Difficulty recovering from a recent illness

• Dressing • Increased falls • Walking • Weakness

Call 800 842-6026 and ask for a rehabilitation nurse liaison who will assess your needs, and coordinate with your physician and caregiving team.

A Higher Level of Care

Let HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Work for You.

550 West College Avenue • Pleasant Gap, PA 16823 • 814 359-3421

The Joint Commission DiseaseSpecific Care Certification in Brain Injury Rehabilitation, Heart Failure, Parkinson’s Disease Rehabilitation and Stroke Rehabilitation

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The Valley, January 2015

Modern Energy and Alternative Heating with Curt Bierly

How To Be A “GOOD” Customer Now wait a minute. I’m the customer and I’m always right. It’s not my job to be a “Good” customer It’s up to the service organization to be a “Good” contractor and to take care of me no matter what! Why should I be concerned about learning how to be a “Good” customer? There are articles about customer satisfaction in the trade magazines, on the internet, on TV and in the newspaper. It is certainly a good thing and needs to be the focus of any successful organization but customer satisfaction is a two way street. It takes a “Good” customer and a “Good” ontractor working together to effectively install, operate and

service a new or existing HVAC system for customer satisfaction to be achieved from the customer’s perspective and from the contractor’s perspective. Below are a few thoughts for consideration. My worst nightmare is a potential customer that doesn’t want to see a brochure, doesn’t want to visit our showroom to view and discuss the equipment, doesn’t read the proposal we prepared, looks at the price and accepts it based on price and reputation alone, gives us the keys and says “Do it, I’ll see you later and will call you if something goes wrong.” The customer needs to listen to the presentation, read and

understand the proposal and ask lots of questions so they can envision the system that is about to be installed. It is important that the contractor explains the system and it is important that the customer understands the system that’s proposed, so once installed, there are no surprises. Beyond that, they need to operate it responsibly by keeping filters clean and alerting the contractor of anything that appears abnormal. If a “Good” customer is away from home for an extended period of time, they should always have a trusted neighbor or relative check the system occasionally depending on the temperature and weather conditions. They may also choose to purchase an optional WiFi thermostat that can be checked and adjusted remotely from a computer or cell phone. If a problem develops and it is a concern, they should know where to shut off the system until the contractor can be contacted. Many contractors have “emergency only” service after business hours, but a “Good” customer has backup electric space heaters to get them thru the night so they can call during regular business hours. This is the

Probably not the best approach to reach the outcome you desire. Place yourself on the receiving end of the phone to achieve best results.

most effective time for contractors to help, because should they not have the part in stock, supply houses will be open. Also, if your system is beyond the labor warranty period, you won’t incur any extra overtime charges. I can remember recently a customer woke me out of a deep sleep at 4am in the morning. It was above freezing and we open daily at 8am. Once I got my senses together, I told the customer to call our business at 8am and they will schedule a service call. I later discovered that this customer had electric baseboard, which could have easily been utilized to keep the house up to temperature until we arrived.

To install a HVAC system successfully and achieve true customer and contractor satisfaction, everyone needs to be involved. You count on the contractor’s design and installation expertise and he counts on your partnership in the project. Curt Bierly is president of the bierly group incorporated of which Stanley C. Bierly is a division. He graduated from Penn State with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and is the chair of the Penn College HVAC Advisory Board. You can contact him at cbierly@bierlygroup.com. a

1-31-2015 The Truth Has No Agenda

The Valley, January 2015

LIbrary Lines

Back Talk

Your Mifflin County Library

by Dr. Joseph Kauffman

Make a Resolution to be Healthy!!! Our country currently spends more money on our healthcare system than any other nation in the world. This cost totals much more than some countries make each year. Think about that for a second. We spend MORE on our healthcare system than some countries MAKE in an entire year. So, what rank do you suppose our country holds in a list of countries that are healthier? This is based on Infant Mortality Rate, which is the statistic that the companies who figure this out calculate by. We are not in the Top 10. We are not in the Top 20. We rank 38th!!! There are Third World countries that rank higher than we do. Think for another few seconds. We spend more money by far, but rank 38th in the world!!! So, what does that tell us? It should tell us that what we are doing IS NOT WORKING!!!! Vaccinations are what we are doing. Medications are what we are doing. Pain Management is what we are doing. Based on statistics, it’s not working. Our country is reactive rather than proactive, and it’s not working. So, how do we be healthier? There are Five Main Aspects to be healthier: 1) Proper Rest—getting enough good quality sleep is necessary to help your body regenerate and boost the immune system. 2) Proper Diet—when you put garbage in, you get garbage out. I’m not only speaking about your

bowels, but your energy and vitality. 3) Proper Exercise—many conditions are due to obesity and simply being overweight. Getting the proper exercise increases circulation, reduces fat and releases endorphins. 4) Positive Mental Attitude— “Your Attitude More than your Aptitude Determines Your Altitude in Life.” Having a better outlook in life may simply come down to choosing to be happy. 5) Proper Functioning Nervous System—this is what we, chiropractors, work to achieve. The brain, spinal cord and all of the nerves coming off the cord, make up the Nervous System. The brain controls the whole entire body and is connected to everything via the spinal cord and the nerves. The spine is designed to protect the spinal cord,but also to allow you to be flexible and move. This ability is achieved because the spine is made up of individual bones called vertebrae. When the vertebrae misalign and pinch on the nerves, this is called a subluxation and there is interference between the brain and the body. This interference creates disease in the body and does not allow the body or the nervous system to function at 100%. The subluxations also weaken the immune system and therefore make you more susceptible to becoming ill. If aspects 1

through 4 are the legs of the table, a “Proper Functioning Nervous System” is the surface of the table holding the legs up. The connection between the brain and the body is vital in order to maintain health. You can have pain and symptoms and still be healthy. Health is better defined as having “100% Life” and that comes from within the body. Having a proper functioning nervous system gets you closer to “100% Life.” Putting manufactured substances into your body takes you away from that. This is what we are doing, and it is not working. Only 5-8% of our country’s population sees the chiropractor. This is what we are NOT DOING. And, this is something we should be doing. In our office, we are doing a unique service in a unique manner. We are giving you the ability to have unlimited access to our office for one low monthly price. Make this New Year count by focusing on your health! Having an unhealthy body affects every aspect of your life. Call us at 717-248-2506 or email me at drjosephkauffman@ comcast.net to find out how chiropractic can help you.

Kauffman-Hummel Chiropractic Clinic Dr. Joseph Kauffman a

The Free State Project

There’s An APP For That There seems to be an “App” for everything. There are so many Apps just for reading and keeping track of the books you have read. If you don’t have an e-reader, but have a smart phone, you can download the Kindle App or the Overdrive App and read books from your phone. The library has over 6000 e-books and e-audiobooks available for download. See our website for details. www. mifflincountylibrary.org. You will find several other e-reader Apps in Google Play and Apple’s App Store. Stanza, iBooks and Calibre are just a few more that are available for free. Then, you can download the GoodReads App and add that book to your bookshelf in that App. You can also make a list of books you want to read. If you can think of it, there is an App for it. The library staff have a few favorite Apps. One

of the best is the Key Ring App. Why carry around a pocket full of store rewards cards when you can download them all to an App on your phone? MyFitnessPal is another great App when you are trying to lose weight and get fit. What could be better than shopping right on your smart phone? Try the Zulily App. Do you like interior design? There’s an App for that, too, the Houzz Interior Design Ideas App. The list just goes on and on. There are an estimated 1.3 million, yes I said million, Apps available through Google Play, Amazon, Apple and more. Have a look, and I bet you can find an App for just about anything. Respectfully submitted, Marsha Shilling Technology Services Coordinator Mifflin County Library a

R. O. F. F.

Rescue Our Furry Friends by Patricia Lawson

Happy New Year from all of us at ROFF! Let’s start the New Year with some delicious fund-raisers. Pretzel Sandwiches are always a hit, and they are only $5. Orders and money are due on January 4th and the delivery will be on January 13th. Treat yourselves to some yummy Klinglers Salads. Chef Salads have ham, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and hard boiled egg with a choice of salad dressings on the side (Italian, Ranch & Sweet & Sour). Orders and money are due on January 16th and the delivery will be on January 23rd. The cost is only $5.50. ROFF has numerous dogs and cats that are looking for “fur”ever homes. Please visit our web-site to see who is looking for you. And, don’t hesitate to adopt or foster an older

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cat. Look at some the advantages: Older cats are calmer; their personalities are well developed and a good match is easier to make; there is no question as to how big they will get; they are less likely to get into mischief around the house; they need less attention than a young kitten, but can still be quite playful; they still make strong bonds with their new family; many don’t mind if they are left alone while you’re at work or school; cats often live until 15 or 20 years, so an 8 year old cat is only middle-aged and has many years of affection to give; and these wonderful and loving kitties deserve a second chance. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and we’ll talk to you next month! a Until they all have homes… www.roffrescue.com

The Valley, January 2015

Plain Talk

Solar Explained by S. Yoder

What Is Homemade Electricity ? Hello to all of The Valley readers. It’s hard to believe Christmas is over and New Year’s Day is here! Homemade electricity can be solar-powered, hydro-powered or small scale wind-powered. Most of the homemade electricity in our area is solar power, which is the best option for most or all systems. All systems involve battery banks that do the same job as an air tank does for a compressor, so the battery bank must be sized according to your power needs. It is always better to go oversize with batteries in case you should want to upgrade your solar system some day. One of the most common mistakes is undersized battery banks; saving a few dollars on the front end is not something you should do with solar. Another problem we see is people connecting old and new or a different style or type of batteries together—this should NEVER be done. Also, please consider using Crown or Trojan batteries, which we have found to be of very good

quality. While we are on the subject of common mistakes, another mistake is to undersize the wire to feed inverters, so it’s a good idea to get someone to design your system, so the proper wire, fuses and breakers will be built into the system as needed. Another good idea is to figure your starting watts as usage watts. For example, an electric freezer that starts at 1300 watts equals a running watt usage of 85 - 150. So, choose an inverter that is 1500 watts. Also with freezers, refrigerators, mini-splits and more, choose only a true sine wave unit. If you use L.E.D. bulbs, you will be using a lot less current, so look for other savings by using energy efficient appliances. Items such as dryers and heaters will not perform very well on solar power as they take too much power because they are making heat. A simple rule of thumb—a microwave runs only for a few minutes and an electric stove runs 15-30 minutes on average. You should also consider using a

couple different sources of power, so if one system goes lower than usual, you will still not be out of power. Wind and solar combined into one system would be perfect in the right location. How do I know if the location is right for either? Solar requires sun without a lot of shade from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Wind will ask for an open area that gets a lot of wind, or at least 12 mph wind at some point. Sunforce wind turbines start at 4-5 mph wind and at 12-15 mph will be approximately at half of full output. Something else to watch for is to make sure you are using MPP+ controllers for maximum power output, which is very important if shade is an issue, or is almost a must since the more power the better nowadays. MPP+ is usually the standard for 40 amp and over, and is also setting the standard for lower 20 amp systems eventually. The more control you have over your power, the better off you are in my opinion. I myself prefer MPP+ for anything over 120 watts. Solar Power Tracer also features auto night light and control right at your finger tips. So, if the sun goes down, you will still have lights light up. With 30 different on/off times or settings, most often a 225 watt solar panel will control and charge your batteries, with up to seven 10-watt L.E.D. bulbs, which pro-

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duce up to 7700 to 8400 lumens for up to 6 hours a day. We have a single bulb system at our retail store, which runs on a 30 watt panel, with only 5 hours of sun per day. It runs a 10 watt bulb 8 hours per day and charges a 12 amp hour battery that is only the size of a half loaf of bread. We do have a spare battery just in case the sun does not shine for weeks. This allows us to have our store lit up late night and early mornings to ensure our customers that we are open. I have heard the comment many times, “if the light is on, I will stop in, even if it is early in the morning or late into the night.” Homemade electricity may also include a back-up generator and charger if no other alternative source is available or suitable for your location. I have said that the solar power systems that have made it through November and December 2014 have done pretty good if no charger was needed, because I have not seen the power as low in three years and I have heard the comment that this has been the longest period without

sun in four years. The sun seems to be back now though and everything is fine. Those with wind back up have had lots of spare power for sure, and I was wishing I had a wind back-up system too. As is always said, if done once, you will know for next time, so I will remember to recommend a charger or wind turbine with customers this year. Next time you stop in, remember to ask about our 12 volt portable solar kits. They are just under eight pounds and will allow you to run small power draw items, such as cell phones, and they will also include two 2-amp USB ports along with one 12 volt power port and 5 watts of solar power, and 4.5 amp hours of 12 volt battery power. This system can be converted to operate a game camera charger power source with its own battery. Watch for exciting news in future “Plain Talk” columns about solar wire welders and maximum power point tracking controllers. See you next month! Steven Yoder a

The Valley, January 2015

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The Valley, January 2015

Top FCC ranking for delivering advertised speeds, and ViaSat-1 Guinness World Records title make Exede an attractive choice for area residents Central Pennsylvania residents now have access to Exede® by ViaSat, a high-speed satellite Internet service earning awards and recognition nationwide. The 12 Mbps baseline download speed offered by Exede Internet is eight times faster than previous generation satellite services – and often significantly faster than average DSL service. Powered by ViaSat-1 – officially recognized as the World’s Highest Capacity Communications Satellite with a Guinness World Records title – Exede service has moved into the mainstream of Internet options. A February 2013 FCC study based on performance tests reported that Exede Internet outperforms all other ISPs in delivering promised speeds to subscribers, with 90 percent of Exede subscribers receiving 140 percent or better of the advertised 12 Mbps download speed during peak periods. Popular Science also named the innovative satellite system and Exede Internet as a Best of What’s New award winner for 2012. One-Stop Communications provides the award-winning service for Central Pennsylvania. “As a local dealer serving this community for many years, I’m pleased to provide super-fast Internet to households that have never been able to get speeds like this in the past,” said Michael Buffington, President, of One-Stop Communications. “My customers are very pleased with the speed and reliability of Exede Internet, and we look forward to providing service to many more customers here in Central Pennsylvania.” The consistently fast performance of the Exede satellite Internet service has helped ViaSat reach more than 285,000 subscribers on ViaSat-1 in its first year of operation. The total subscriber count across all ViaSat satellites has surpassed 500,000 for the first time. Subscribers also enjoy 100

percent U.S.-based customer support. Approximately 40 percent of new Exede Internet subscribers are choosing the satellite service over other alternatives available to them, such as DSL, cable, and mobile wireless for fixed home use – a major shift from the previous generations of satellite Internet service, often considered a “last resort” for those with no other alternative.

allied governments. ViaSat also offers communication system de-

About Exede (www.exede.com) Exede® Internet by ViaSat, Inc. delivers high-speed Internet to more than 285,000 subscribers across the U.S. Powered by ViaSat-1, the world’s highestcapacity satellite uses spot-beam technology to cover approximately 80 percent of the U.S. population. With download speeds up to 12 Mbps, Exede has transformed satellite Internet for households that previously had slow, inadequate Internet service. It is also proving to be a popular, competitive alternative to residential DSL and wireless Internet. In the FCC’s annual benchmarking report, Measuring Broadband America 2013, Exede led all Internet service providers in surpassing advertised speeds. ViaSat-1 earned a Guinness World Records® achievement as the highest-capacity communications satellite in the world at the time of its launch in October 2011. Popular Science also named the innovative satellite system and Exede Internet as a Best of What’s New Award Winner for 2012. About ViaSat (www.viasat.com) ViaSat delivers fast, secure communications, Internet, and network access to virtually any location for consumers, governments, enterprise, and the military. The company offers fixed and mobile satellite network services including Exede® by ViaSat, which features ViaSat-1, the world’s highest capacity satellite; service to more than 1,750 mobile platforms, including Yonder® Ku-band mobile Internet; satellite broadband networking systems; and network-centric military communication systems and cybersecurity products for the U.S. and

sign and a number of complementary products and technologies. Based in Carlsbad, California, ViaSat employs over 2,500 people in a number of locations world-

wide for technology development, customer service, and network operations. a

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The Valley, January 2015

Soil Health

From Pennsylvania to Washington DC by Melissa Erdman

District Conservationist, Juniata County On September 18, the Chief of NRCS and a Pennsylvania farmer went to Washington DC to testify before the US House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy and Forestry. The topic of discussion was soil health. Jim Harbach, a close neighbor to Juniata County, in nearby Clinton County, is a dairy farmer who testified on behalf of the nation’s farming community that has taken soil health to heart. He testified about having “seen firsthand the transformation of our soils and the positive results when you farm in nature’s image.” With the addition of cover crops and the belief that plants feed the soil instead of the soil feeding the plants, he has seen incredible results. For example, he has fields where the organic matter content increased one percent, in just three years and has soils with water infiltration rates that average 4 ½ inches an hour! And remember, this is central Pennsylvania soils he’s talking about! Jim elaborated in his testimony that, “Agriculture today is farming a degraded resource and has accepted this as normal. Despite our best efforts, our soils have lost the ability to effectively adsorb rainwater, are void of biological life and are depleted of nutrients. Our soils are so degraded that we must rely on industrial inputs to keep our farmlands productive.” From over 40 years of experience in agriculture, Jim then painted a brighter picture, a more promising future for agriculture. “I have no fancy degrees, no financial incentives to be here today… but I have a passion for our soils and the land around the world. We no longer use insecticides and fungicides and only a fraction of the herbicides and fertilizer that we once applied. I used to be part of the group of traditional thinking farmers, but by attending national conferences, field days and visiting open minded farmers around the country, I now have an understanding of the important symbiotic relationships

that are achieved when you farm in nature’s image. Our farm is part of a like-minded nationwide soil health community which believes that soil health holds the answer to so many problems.” The Chief of NRCS, Jason Weller, added to Jim’s firsthand experience. “Improving soil health simultaneously addresses many of our nation’s most pressing natural resource needs. A healthy soil has better water holding capacity and therefore resilience to extreme weather like drought and heavy precipitation… greater infiltration means less nutrient and sediment runoff. Conservation systems that enhance soil health also help increase carbon sequestration and organic matter, enhance nutrient cycling and provide pollinator habitat, reduce energy use and produce the food, fiber and bioenergy needs of our rapidly growing population.” Both agreed that a farmer getting a soil health management plan, which is a conservation plan roadmap to soil health, is critical. It is a plan that takes a systems approach that brings together suites of conservation practices that minimize soil disturbance, diversify soil biota, and maintain living roots and soil cover year round. I encourage you to join the community of farmers nationwide that are taking soil health to heart. Chief Weller noted, “Farmers and ranchers all over the country are reporting that they see a connection between improved soil health and more consistent (and often higher) yields, higher profit margins and more weather-resilient operations.” There are farmer accounts from Pennsylvania to North Carolina to Ohio to North Dakota reporting doubling, even tripling of organic matter levels in their soils and consistently higher yields than neighboring conventionally farmed ground, even during times of drought. So, if maybe there is something to this soil health thing, where do you get started? How about getting a conservation plan written (or revised) for YOUR farm? How about visiting with

your local soil conservationist who can discuss with you how to incorporate soil health management principles? All you need is an open mind and a willingness to learn… we’ll take it from there, one step at a time. I’ll talk more about that, next time. To learn more about soil

conservation, and how you can get help on your land, visit www. nrcs.usda.gov or contact your local office in Mifflintown, located at 146 Stoney Creek Drive, Suite 3, Mifflintown, PA 17059. About Melissa Erdman: Melissa is a District Conservationist with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. She works in the agency’s Mifflintown office and can be contacted at (717) 436-8953 x 111

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or melissa.erdman@pa.usda.gov. About NRCS: USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service helps America’s farmers and ranchers conserve the nation’s soil, water, air and other natural resources. All programs are voluntary and offer sciencebased solutions that benefit both the landowner and the environment. Learn more at www.pa.nrcs. usda.gov. a

Mail Pouch Books by Carleen B. Grossman Happy New Year! Here are some outstanding non-fiction books for you to read during this wintery January! HIDDEN IN PLAIN VIEW By J.L. Tobin & R.G. Dobard Copyright 2000 240 pages with sketches and colored photos throughout This book offers proof that certain quilt patterns, were essential tools for escape along the Underground Railroad. Each quilt,

which could be laid out to air without arousing suspicion, gave slaves directions for their escape. Quilt patterns like the wagon wheel, log cabin, and shoofly signaled slaves how and when to prepare for their journey. Stitching and knots created maps, showing slaves the way to safety. Hidden in Plain View is a unique piece of literature about oral history, and cultural exploration that reveals slaves as agents in their own quest for freedom and it shows that history can sometimes be found where you least expect it.

is a story about life itself! Go to Tom’s & Atticus’s blog where you can read more about this famous team! http://tomandatticus.blogspot. com/ QUILT OF AMERICA : Stories of Americans and Quilts Pieced into a Quilt called “Dear Bart”

FOLLOWING ATTICUS By Tom Ryan Copyright 2012 304 pages plus some colored photos and a map in the front and back end-pages FOLLOWING ATTICUS is a non-fiction book about a middleaged New Hampshire newspaper editor and an extraordinary and lovable miniature schnauzer. The mountain-hiking adventures that these two share together will delight, entertain, and inspire. This

Ed’s Railroading News by Ed Forsythe

About 12 or so years ago, an elderly lady called me with a request to come to her apartment to service her Lionel train as she didn’t drive. She informed me that she was on a fixed income and would really like to have her train running again. I went to the apartment complex and was able to get her train running. Even though she had quite a few decorations around the room, I could tell her income was tightly budgeted, so when she asked what she owed me I just said Merry Christmas and Happy Railroading. The following year about the same time, the same lady called me again because the train wasn’t running again. I stopped in and found that the transformer had quit working. The next day I returned with a used transformer for her that was easier to use. The third year in a row the same lady called again, so I went in to see just what she needed this

time. She needed something to run her train on besides on the floor, since her new little dog wouldn’t stay away from the tracks. Well, it just so happened that during the summer before this I had acquired a platform from my sister Joyce, since she didn’t need it anymore. It was just the right size for the train and decorations. After attaching the tracks, she asked me to spread out several strings of multicolored lights, cover them with a snow white blanket and then set out about 2 dozen or so little houses, figurines, trees, etc. It was quite the little Christmas layout. She would tell me all about having her neighbors in from the apartments in the building to see her decorations and her train running. The next year, year number four in early November, the phone call came to setup the layout again before my busy season started. This time the just right platform

This is a non-fiction collection of short biographical and historical descriptions about people and their quilts and the stories of the quilt designs. It is fascinating reading! Some of my favorite stories and photos were of a hobo quilt square, an elk quilt uniquely displayed more beautifully on the wrong side than on the correctly quilted side, a genealogical oldtime photograph quilt, a carrot quilt, a peace basket quilt, a mama & baby manatee quilt and a Texan broken star quilt. Those are just a few of the many quilts and quilt blocks told about and shown in this outstanding book. The author traveled around the U.S. gathering information about the quilts for this book. She visited museums and interviewed over 100 people so she could tell about the events that built America. She designed a quilt herself composed of a block for each person she interviewed or told about in this book. Her own quilt is shown on the front and the back of the book jacket!

WWII Airman and the Four-legged Hero who Flew at His Side By Damien Lewis Copyright 2014 304 pages with black and white photos throughout the book This book was written in a creative, non-fiction style that reads like a riveting novel. You will follow the airman from the time his plane crashes in Nazi territory Germany where he rescues a puppy and later on many perilous escapades in France and Great Britain where the dog flies in the gunner’s turret of the aircraft! WHAT ADVENTURES......and they are all true! a

THE DOG WHO COULD FLY: The Incredible True Story of a was a little too big so she asked me to cut it down by few inches in length and width. Again, since she was in her 80’s and could not get down on the floor where the platform was, I did the decorating of the platform while she regaled me of her youth, family, her life working, and just how much she enjoyed Christmas. Soon, that year’s Christmas season was over and then year number five season arrived as did the yearly phone call. And so it went for at least 12 or more of the 16 years that I’ve been in business. Each year helping her enjoy her favorite season and becoming more and more a part of it with her. Last year, since I was having leg trouble and it was very hard getting down to the floor and up again, my wife Cathy went with me to assist. She finally got to meet my friend and see the little Christmas layout that I once complained about having to set up, and then started looking forward to setting up each year. Well, here it is January of 2015, a new year, a new story. Sometime in the middle of November of 2014, I realized my yearly phone call did not come

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yet. It was late. I asked Cathy if she had taken the call and she told me “no.” Later that evening, I took time to call my friend and the male hospice nurse who answered informed me that my friend, Kathy Miller, was in failing health. The following day I went to see Kathy and the nurse on duty filled me in on how things were progressing. I stayed with Kathy and gave a prayer over her that she be able to rest peacefully. On the way home, I asked God to take her swiftly so she didn’t have to suffer any longer. I checked in on her from time to time over the next few weeks until on the morning of December 4th, I received the dreaded phone call from her number that informed me that my dear friend, Kathy Miller, had died earlier that morning at the young age of 90 years. Kathy was the last of her immediate family, but she had a family of friends living all around her at the Mount Rocks Commons and all

the way to Vira. She has already been missed and I’m sure that each November I’ll remember the phone call that will never come again. She may not have known it, but she taught me a lot about the true meaning of Christmas and the love we should have for others. May she rest in peace with God and her family. Together again forever. I’d like to take this opportunity to publicly say, THANK YOU, to all the staff who assisted Kathy in her time of need and to those who decorated her apartment so that even though she was lying in bed, she could see the Christmas decorations. Although it was with a heavy heart and several tears that I wrote this article, I tried to remember that she had just gotten to celebrate Christmas with God and Jesus Christ. How wonderful that must have been. May 2015 be a Blessed year for all of you. Ed & Cathy a

Next Issue of The Valley: February 4th

The Valley, January 2015

Life in the East End by Rebecca Harrop Happy New Year from the East End! By the time you read this we will have celebrated Christmas and ushered in 2015. I am super excited for Christmas this year. My nieces, Emily and Nicole, are 15 months old. It will be so much fun watching them unwrap their presents this year. We saw these neat ornaments you can make for Christmas. I helped Emily and Nicole make some to give to their Mom. I didn’t think they would do too well with the paint, so I painted the ornaments. I hope Joann likes them. They are really cute. Emily has finger marks in all of hers, but I guess that just makes them unique. Nicole wasn’t real impressed with the whole process. Since they are only 15 months old now, it is probably expecting a lot from them. Maybe if we do them next year, she will be more into it. They should be able to paint them then too. Oh boy, that might be an adventure. I am also really excited because Rachel’s present to me this year is she is taking me to New York City to go to Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree and go ice skating in Central Park between Christmas and New Year’s Day. I have been wanting to see the tree in Rockefeller Cen-

to classes the last three years. I really enjoy being a part of this program. The first bookshelf went to Derry Elementary. We are hoping to deliver the rest of the bookshelves in January. I was disappointed that I did not get a deer yet, but the late Muzzleloader season comes back in in January and I am hoping to get one then. We really need some canned venison! Some Jerky would be good too. Since it is January, we will be butchering hogs soon. I hope Mom’s friends from New Jersey can come again this year. We really have fun with Jimmy and his brother when they come out. Well, I hope 2015 is a lot calmer year. I am praying this turmoil and upset our country seems to be going through right now can be resolved and people will start looking for the good in each other. Dad says that if you look for trouble, you will find it. So if we all look for good, we should find it as well. I’m not big on New Year’s resolutions but maybe I’ll make that mine. On that note I’ll end my article for this month. a

ter for several years. I can’t wait! Mifflin County Farm Bureau has delivered the first of the Barn Bookshelves we are having made for the elementary schools to display the books donated to the schools through the ‘Farm-tastic Book’ program. The Women’s Committee of PA State Farm Bureau chooses a book that is related to agriculture to promote agricultural literacy. This is the third year of the ‘FARM-tastic’ Book Program and the State Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee is a great advocate for agriculture literacy. The FARM-tastic Book Program goal is to generate excitement among students in public libraries and elementary school libraries. This gives children the opportunity to learn about different aspects of agriculture. The following books have been chosen and donated to Mifflin County Elementary Schools, ‘How Did That Get In My Lunchbox,’ ‘The Guardian Team,’ and ‘The Beeman.’ I have had the privilege of going into the schools to read each of these books The trip to New York was fun!!

Bradly L.P. Fultz, 13 years old of Lewistown PA, shot this 8 point buck with a .243 rifle, at 11:02 a.m. on Licking Creek Mountain on 12/13/14. The buck weighed in at 180 lbs/ and has a spread of 16 inches. Bradly was hunting with his

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brother Cody Pruitt, 11 years old, and his Pap, Timothy Fultz of Lewistown. Bradly loves to be outside hunting, fishing and helping his Pap. We hope Bradly has more luck like this in the years to come. a

The Valley, January 2015

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The Valley, January 2015

30 Teach Your Children Well from page 8 ing. Monies they earn are also divided accordingly using roughly the same percentages. Monetary gifts can be spent, however; as typically in lieu of buying a gift, loved ones leave it to the discretion of the recipient and parents to decide what needs ought to be met with that money. Now your sons and daughter have control of their own spending and giving. They have opportunity to put money in the collection basket when in fellowship with your congregation, which is a very important lesson in practicing generosity. They have resources to spend when they get the “gimmies” at the grocery store. Many times our boys would ask for something and we would respond with “you have your own money, so you can buy it” and often the gimmies disappeared! Other times they chose to save up for an item and achieved great satisfaction in acquiring it, and often took better care of those items because they had to put their own money on the line for it. Having an emergency fund is beneficial when a baseball accidently flies through the neighbor’s window, they can apologize and pay to make it right! What a lesson in responsibility in addition to prudent money management! The long term savings category accumulates toward some large purchase such as a new bicycle

or other item that is beyond an allowance or two. What a great way to teach our children about goal setting and delayed gratification. Consider opening a savings account while they are in grammar school and review their statements with them. This will show them how interest can work for them, and is a great opportunity to show them how interest can work against them when they borrow money. In high school, open a checking account with and for your child. Obtain a debit card for the account as well so that they understand that debited purchases are just like writing a check. Teach them to track their purchases in the ledger and to balance the account monthly. Let me encourage you that regardless of where you are in the child-rearing continuum, it’s never too late to start teaching your offspring these very important skills. By taking the above steps, you will point your children in a good financial direction, giving them life skills they will never outgrow! C. Mark Ostrowski, MSFS, is the Founder and President of The Stewardship Group in Belleville. His articles ponder various contemporary topics evaluating them from a political, economic and scriptural point of view. Visit The Group at: www.TheStewardshipGroup.org a

nepotism NOUN the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs. synonyms: favoritism · preferential treatment · the old boy network

Alive and well in Lewistown?

Save Our Allegheny Ridges from page 30 there were also many much lower and some at eye level. At 1:38 we had 8 Golden Eagles in a kettle on the west side of the Jacks and at 2:19 we had a kettle of 5 Golden Eagles on the east side. It was also interesting to note that many eagles came in pairs -not necessarily mated pairs, but appeared to be traveling together. It was one of those days that come once in a lifetime for raptor watchers during the migration.

There was a time after we counted about 26 Golden Eagles that I told Craig I was going to look up the all-time one-day record for Jacks Mountain. I found it in my records that in 1995, 31 Golden Eagles were recorded on Jacks Mountain Hawk Watch. I said it would be great if we could break it. In the next 15 minutes we passed the old record of 31 and were well on our way to 40. The next time I checked our numbers, we were at 49 and said it would be great to get 50. We never stopped at 50 on our way to the grand total

of 56 Golden Eagles. I thank God that Craig was there that day to observe with me, for I would never have seen all 56. You all know, the more eyes the better. Craig picked up many that I would have missed. What happened that day on Jacks will be forever something that Craig and I will share and never forget. a

PACleanways of Mifflin County Keep PA Beautiful Our Tire Recycle Challenge their TV and electronics to the which cleanups we will be doing this year was a huge success. Mifflin County Solid Waste Aufor the spring at that meeting. We Perry County came in 1st place thority to properly recycle them. will also be discussing the Juniata with 1613 tires, Mifflin County TV’s should not be torn apart River cleanup for 2015 at that came in 2nd place with 1163 tires, before taking them in. You can time also. If you want to see the Huntingdon County came in 3rd go on the Mifflin County Solid river cleaned up and have a john place with 1134 tires, and Juniata boat that you would want to help Waste Authority’s web page and County came in 4th with 941 tires. see what can be taken in to be out with, let us know. You can In all, we had 4851 tires properly log on to the www.keeppabeautiproperly disposed of. recycled. This is one challenge We will not have any meetful.org web site and click on the where there are no losers. We ings now because of all the holicalendar of events to see where would like to thank Lewistown days. Our next meeting will be we might be cleaning up. Borough for allowing us to hold the second Tuesday in February, the Tire Recycle in their Refuse weather permitting, at the DownPam Sechrist Yard. town OIP at 12 noon. We welAffiliate Coordinator Our river cleanup totals for PACleanWays of Mifflin County a come anyone that would like to the last two years for all four become involved. We will choose counties were exceptional. We had 264 volunteers, 12.48 tons of trash were removed, 1227 tires were removed and recycled, and 9.5 miles of the Juniata River were cleaned. We would like to thank all the volunteers that came out to make this a success. Since the tire recycle, our volunteers have cleaned up 2 illegal dump sites • Reliable Propane & Heating Oil Delivery that were listed on the county’s • Budget Payment Plan Call today Illegal Dump to • 24/7 Emergency Service le arn about our list. One was at NE w CustOmER Creek Crossing in • Heating Equipment Service Plans sPECiAls! Derry Township • Safety Trained Professionals and the other was along Greenwood • Over 80 Years Experience Furnace road in Union township. We removed 1.64 tons of trash and 89 tires between Our Business is Customer Satisfaction the two sites. We would 717-248-5476 • 1-800-PROPANE (776-7263) like to remind everyone to take

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It’s not just about the Super Bowl anymore, it’s always about the food. by Scott Keys Super Bowl Sunday is just a few weeks away, Feb. 1 to be exact. Are you hosting? Attending a party? The Super Bowl comes once a year and provides the perfect opportunity to get your football-loving family and friends

together in a party at home, where you can watch the game on your big screen TV, nibble on snacks and enjoy a range of drinks. In fact, your guests don’t even have to be keen on football or sports to get into the spirit of the Super

Bowl, as it’s a great excuse just to get together and have fun. For years, Dutch Pantry Gifts has been providing easy to do recipes for desserts, appetizers and finger foods with very few ingredients. Our customers have been excited over the dozens of free recipes and free samples we provide at our store. Our most popular ingredient has been our large variety of dip mixes. Sure there’s nothing like dipping veggies in Original Ranch, but the great taste of dip doesn’t end there. That’s why we’ve put our favorite dip, spread and appetizer recipes all on paper for you and they’re free. Want to find crowdpleasing dip recipes for parties, happy hours and game day? You got it. Looking for tasty spreads for sandwiches and burgers?

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You’ll find them here. Seeking scrumptious sauces for meat, fish and veggies? Got you covered. So start exploring – you may come across some fresh ideas that you didn’t even know that you were looking for. We’re always updating our dip recipes collection to include our new takes on the classics, so be sure to check in with us every Saturday for Sampling Saturday to see what’s new. From now to Super Bowl Sunday we will be kicking things into high gear with all new recipes and a few of our classics as well. Things like our easy cheese balls, savory crackers and pretzels, bacon horseradish deviled eggs and much more. We will show how to make easy to do desserts with our homemade jams and preserves

that will amaze your friends. It doesn’t cost anything to stop by and sample and get as many free recipes as you would like. Saturday, January 10th, stop by and try our newest jelly made from the rare Medlar fruit. It’s a must try as we continue to try and revive some of the lost fruits through our jams. Dutch Pantry Gifts is located right off the Milroy Exit beside the Best Western Hotel and Dollar General. Check our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ dutchpantry, for an up to date schedule of what we are sampling every Saturday. a

The Valley, January 2015

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